sawbuck
LowInformal, slang
Definition
Meaning
A ten-dollar bill (US currency).
Primarily a North American slang term for a ten-dollar bill, originally derived from the resemblance of the Roman numeral X (ten) to the X-shaped end of a sawhorse (also called a sawbuck).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is dated and now used primarily in historical contexts, by older speakers, or for deliberate stylistic/period effect. It's not used in formal or official contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, referring specifically to US currency. In British English, a ten-pound note would have no equivalent slang term of 'sawbuck'.
Connotations
In AmE: evokes mid-20th century or earlier Americana, possibly associated with gangster/crime or rural speech. In BrE: largely unknown or recognised only as an Americanism.
Frequency
Extremely rare in BrE. In AmE, it is obsolete for most speakers but may be encountered in literature, film, or among numismatists.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He slipped me a sawbuck.It costs a sawbuck.Have you got a sawbuck?Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a sawbuck”
- “a sawbuck says... (a bet for ten dollars)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/linguistic studies of American slang.
Everyday
Virtually obsolete; might be used humorously or by older generations.
Technical
Not used in finance. The primary 'sawbuck' in technical contexts is the X-shaped sawhorse in carpentry/woodworking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He gave me a sawbuck for my help.
- The old book cost me just a sawbuck at the flea market.
- In the classic film, the detective bribed the doorman with a folded sawbuck.
- The term 'sawbuck', though largely archaic, persists in the lexicon of collectors of vintage American currency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BUCK (deer) trying to SAW a log on an X-shaped sawhorse for 10 minutes. The X is the Roman numeral for 10, linking to a ten-dollar bill.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A TOOL (from the tool 'sawbuck' / sawhorse). SHAPE FOR VALUE (X-shape stands for the number 10).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not literally translate as 'пила-олень' or 'пильный козёл'. It is purely monetary slang with no animal connection in this sense.
- The word 'buck' in American slang can mean 'dollar', but 'sawbuck' is fixed and only means a ten-dollar bill, not one dollar.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to any dollar amount (e.g., 'a sawbuck' for $5 or $20).
- Using it in formal writing.
- Assuming it is current, widely understood slang.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'sawbuck' in American slang?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'sawbuck' specifically denotes a ten-dollar bill. A five-dollar bill is sometimes called a 'fiver' or a 'fin'.
No, it is an American slang term. In the UK, a ten-pound note might be called a 'tenner', but never a sawbuck.
It comes from the X-shaped ends of a sawhorse (also called a sawbuck), which resemble the Roman numeral X for ten.
No, it is considered dated or archaic. You might encounter it in historical fiction, films set in the past, or among older speakers, but it is not part of modern everyday slang.