Words and Their Stories 1 - VOA 'Money' Expressions

I would give anything to make money _______.

• hand over fist

• like a deadbeat

• a windfall

• with a silver spoon in his mouth

Answer explanation

to earn large amounts of money rapidly

Winning the lottery is a ​ (a)   .

• windfall
• blessing
• hard up
• nest egg
• deadbeat

A few years ago, my friend Al won the ​ (a)   . It changed his life. He did not have a rich family. He was not ​ (b)   .  Instead, my friend was always​ (c)   for cash. He did not have much money. And the money he did earn was ​ (d)   – very little.

• lottery
• born with a silver spoon in his mouth
• hard up
• chicken feed
• cheapskate
• flat broke

Sometimes Al even had to accept ​ (a)   , gifts from his family and friends.  But do not get me wrong. My friend was not a ​ (b)   . He was not the kind of person who never paid the money he owed. He simply pinched pennies. He was always very careful with the money he spent. In fact, he was often a ​ (c)   .  He did not like to spend money. The worst times were when he was flat broke and had no money at all.

One day, Al ​ (d)   a few dollars for a lottery ticket. He thought he would never ​ (e)   or gain lots of money unexpectedly. But his combination of numbers was chosen and he won the lottery. He hit the jackpot.  He won a great deal of money.

• hand-outs
• deadbeat
• cheapskate
• scraped together
• strike it rich
• born with a silver spoon in his mouth

Al was so excited. The first thing he did was buy a costly new car. He ​ (a)   on the one thing that he normally would not buy. Then he started spending money on unnecessary things. He started to waste it. It was like he had​ (b)     He had more money than he needed and it was ​ (c)   so he spent it quickly.

When we got together for a meal at a restaurant, Al paid every time. He would always​ (d)   and pick up the tab. He told me the money made him ​ (e)   . He was very happy.

• splurged
• money to burn.
• burning a hole in his pocket
• foot the bill
• feel like a million dollars
• strike it rich

But, Al spent too much money. Soon my friend was down and out again. He had no money left. He was back to being ​ (a)   for cash. He had spent his ​ (b)   dollar, his very last amount. He did not even build up a ​ (c)   . He had not saved any of the money.

I admit I do feel sorry for my friend. He had enough money to live like a king. Instead, he is back to living on a ​ (d)   -- a very low budget. Some might say he is ​ (e)   He was wise about small things, but not about important things.

• strapped
• bottom
• nest egg
• shoestring
• penny wise and pound foolish.
• hit the jackpot

He always spends money _______.

• like a deadbeat

• hand over fist

• with a silver spoon in his mouth

• like a spendthrift

She inherited a large sum of money, it was a _______.

• like a deadbeat

• with a silver spoon in his mouth

• like a spendthrift

• windfall

He was born into a wealthy family, he was born _______.

• like a deadbeat

• hand over fist

• with a silver spoon in his mouth

• like a spendthrift