easy money
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
Money obtained with little effort or difficulty, often implying a quick or unethical gain.
A profit, reward, or financial gain that is acquired without requiring significant skill, time, or risk. Often used pejoratively to suggest the money is undeserved, unearned, or involves exploitation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term often carries negative moral connotations, implying laziness, opportunism, or a lack of integrity in the acquisition of wealth. It can also be used neutrally or positively in specific contexts (e.g., a clever business deal).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical, though associated cultural references (e.g., specific get-rich-quick schemes) may differ.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation in British English, often associated with 'dodgy' dealings. In American English, it can sometimes have a more entrepreneurial, if still skeptical, ring.
Frequency
Equally common and idiomatic in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It was easy money.He thought it would be easy money.They're after easy money.Don't expect easy money.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “money for old rope”
- “money for jam”
- “a licence to print money”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used critically to describe unsustainable or predatory business models.
Academic
Rare; used in sociology/economics discussing informal economies or moral hazard.
Everyday
Common in conversation to express skepticism about get-rich-quick offers or to describe a surprisingly simple paid task.
Technical
Not a technical financial term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's been easy-moneying his way through life, never holding a proper job.
- They tried to easy-money the system.
American English
- He's just easy-moneying it on his influencer platform.
- Don't try to easy-money this deal; put in the work.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used) He lived easy-money, without a care.
American English
- (Rarely used) They were getting by easy-money, trading crypto.
adjective
British English
- He fell for an easy-money scam advertised online.
- The easy-money lifestyle proved to be a mirage.
American English
- She was drawn in by an easy-money scheme promising instant wealth.
- They were living an easy-money existence.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Selling lemonade was easy money for the children.
- He thought betting on the game would be easy money, but he lost it all.
- Many young people are lured by the promise of easy money in the gig economy, only to find the reality is far more demanding.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'money tree' — if money grew on trees, picking it would be 'easy money'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A REWARD / MONEY IS A RESOURCE (acquired with minimal effort).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'лёгкие деньги'. The closest equivalent is 'лёгкий заработок' or 'халявные деньги' (colloquial).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an easy money' is incorrect). It is an uncountable noun phrase.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'easy money' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily an informal, idiomatic expression.
Rarely. While it can neutrally describe a simple paid task ('The freelance gig was easy money'), it often implies skepticism or moral judgment.
It is treated as an uncountable, singular concept. You do not say 'easy moneys'.
'Easy money' refers to money earned easily. 'Cheap money' is an economic term for low-interest-rate credit.