door money: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal
Quick answer
What does “door money” mean?
Money paid for admission to an event or venue upon entry.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Money paid for admission to an event or venue upon entry.
Cash collected at the point of entry for events like concerts, clubs, or private parties. Can also refer more broadly to ticket sales revenue collected at the door.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties with no significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in UK context for smaller club nights and pub gigs.
Connotations
Often associated with live music venues, club nights, and grassroots events. Not typically used for formal theatre, cinema, or large stadium events.
Frequency
Low frequency term overall, confined to specific event-organizing contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “door money” in a Sentence
The venue takes door money.We split the door money with the promoter.Door money is £10 tonight.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “door money” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They'll be dooring a fiver tonight.
- We need someone to door the money.
American English
- He's dooring tonight, collecting the cash.
- The club doors $15 after 10 pm.
adjective
British English
- The door-money split is 60/40.
- Check the door-money takings.
American English
- What's the door-money policy?
- The door-money revenue was lower than expected.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal accounting term for revenue collected on-site at small events.
Academic
Rarely used; 'box office revenue' or 'gate receipts' are formal equivalents.
Everyday
Used when discussing plans for a gig, club night, or house party.
Technical
Not a technical term in finance or ticketing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “door money”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “door money”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “door money”
- Using 'door money' for pre-paid online tickets.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun.
- Confusing it with 'door prize' (a gift).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. A ticket is the proof of purchase. 'Door money' refers specifically to the cash payment made at the point of entry, often without issuing a physical ticket beforehand.
Typically, 'door money' implies cash transactions. If an event accepts cards at the door, people would more commonly say 'pay at the door' or 'pay on the door', not specifically 'door money'.
They are very close synonyms. 'Cover charge' is slightly more standard and widely understood, while 'door money' can sound more informal and specific to the live music or club scene.
No, it is an informal term. Formal equivalents include 'gate receipts', 'box office revenue', or simply 'admission income'.
Money paid for admission to an event or venue upon entry.
Door money: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɔː ˌmʌni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːr ˌmʌni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pay at the door”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bouncer at a DOOR collecting MONEY from everyone entering.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCESS IS A COMMODITY (you pay money to pass through the door).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'door money' MOST appropriately used?