gold digging: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Colloquial, Often Pejorative
Quick answer
What does “gold digging” mean?
The act of entering into or pursuing a romantic relationship primarily for the purpose of extracting money or material wealth from the partner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of entering into or pursuing a romantic relationship primarily for the purpose of extracting money or material wealth from the partner.
A derogatory term describing the behaviour or characteristic of someone (often stereotyped as a person, typically a younger woman) who seeks financial gain through a relationship with a wealthy person, rather than genuine affection. Can also be used metaphorically in non-romantic contexts to imply exploiting someone for their resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The spelling 'gold digging' is standard in both; hyphenated form 'gold-digging' is also common, especially in attributive position.
Connotations
Equally pejorative and informal in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American pop culture and media, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “gold digging” in a Sentence
be accused of gold diggingengage in gold diggingmotivated by gold digginghis/her gold digging became apparentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gold digging” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb. Use 'to gold-dig' is rare and informal) She was only after his money; she didn't love him.
American English
- (Not standard as a verb) He suspected she was just trying to gold-dig her way into his fortune.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb) He acted purely out of financial interest.
American English
- (Not used as an adverb) She married him, motivated solely by greed.
adjective
British English
- His family worried about her gold-digging intentions from the start.
American English
- The tabloids painted her as the ultimate gold-digging socialite.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts. Could appear metaphorically in commentary about exploitative partnerships or mergers.
Academic
Rare. Might appear in sociological or gender studies papers within quotation marks to discuss the stereotype.
Everyday
Common in gossip, tabloid journalism, and informal discussions about relationships and motives.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gold digging”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gold digging”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gold digging”
- Using it as a verb for the person ('She gold-digged him') is non-standard. The person is a 'gold-digger'. Confusing with literal mining for gold.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while the stereotype is often gendered, the term can apply to any person of any gender who pursues a relationship primarily for financial gain.
The verb 'to gold-dig' exists but is informal and less common than the noun forms 'gold digging' (activity) and 'gold-digger' (person).
Yes, it is inherently pejorative and judgmental. It accuses someone of having impure, mercenary motives in a relationship and is considered insulting.
A 'gold-digger' actively seeks wealth. A 'trophy wife/husband' is a status symbol for their partner, often younger and attractive; their primary motive may not be explicitly financial, though the concepts often overlap.
The act of entering into or pursuing a romantic relationship primarily for the purpose of extracting money or material wealth from the partner.
Gold digging is usually informal, colloquial, often pejorative in register.
Gold digging: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊld ˌdɪɡ.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊld ˌdɪɡ.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Marry for money, and you'll earn every penny (related proverb).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person with a shovel (digging) not in the earth, but in their partner's wallet or bank vault for gold.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELATIONSHIP IS A MINING OPERATION / WEALTH IS A RESOURCE TO BE EXTRACTED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'gold digging' MOST appropriately used?