Students: make sentences with each idiom as you learn them. Here is an example of a sentence with the idiom chicken feed:
He works for chicken feed, but he expects to get a better paying job.
Some Slang Idioms
Slang idioms are used in everyday language. Dough for example is a popular word for money. It's good to know idioms such as shell out dough. A sentence to demonstrate this is “He shelled out a lot of dough to his buddies after he won the lottery. Some other expressions to learn are:
- work for peanuts ------------- to work for very little money
- flip a coin -------------------------to make a decision by flipping a coin in the air
and selecting heads or tails
- stretch money------------------ to be careful in making money last longer
- max out a credit card------------to spend up to the limit of a credit card.
dollar Idioms
almighty dollar
- money when it is viewed as more important than anything else
The man spent most of his life chasing the almighty dollar. as phony as a three-dollar bill
- phony, not genuine
The man who was asking for donations for the charity was as phony as a three-dollar bill. as sound as a dollar
- very secure and dependable
The company president believes that his business is as sound as a dollar. bet one`s bottom dollar
- to bet all that one has on something because you are sure that you will win
I would bet my bottom dollar that the accounting manager will be late again today. bottom dollar
- one`s last dollar
The man spent his bottom dollar on some new clothes to wear for his job interview. dollar for dollar
- considering the cost
Dollar for dollar the new hotel is the best bargain in this city for tourists. feel like a million dollars/bucks
- to feel wonderful, to feel well and healthy
Although I have been sick for a few weeks I feel like a million dollars today. look like a million dollars
- to look very good
The woman looked like a million dollars when she went to accept the award. penny/cent Idioms
cost a pretty penny
- to cost a lot of money
It is going to cost a pretty penny to get my car fixed. cut (someone) off without a penny
- to stop giving someone a regular amount of money, to leave someone no money in a will
The wealthy businessman cut his son off without a penny when the young man refused to work hard. (not) have two cents to rub together
- to not have much money
My friend does not have two cents to rub together and he is always broke. pennies from heaven
- money that you do not expect to get
The money that I received from the government was like pennies from heaven and I was very happy. penny for one`s thoughts
- a request that asks someone what he or she is thinking about
"I will give you a penny for your thoughts," I said to my friend who was looking out of the window. a penny saved is a penny earned
- saving money by not spending it is the same as earning money from working
A penny saved is a penny earned and it is better to be thrifty sometimes than to only work more hours. penny-wise and pound foolish
- to be careful or thrifty in small expenditures but careless or wasteful in large ones
My friend is penny-wise and pound foolish and she economizes on small things but wastes much money on big things. pinch pennies
- to be careful with money, to be thrifty
My grandmother always pinches pennies and never spends her money foolishly. put in one`s two cents (worth)
- to add one's comments or opinion to a discussion
I stood up in the meeting and put in my two cents worth before I sat down. red cent
- a small sum of money (usually used in the negative)
I would not give a red cent for my neighbor's car. two cents (worth)
- one's comments or opinion
I gave my two cents worth when my supervisor asked me for my opinion. (not) worth a cent/a red cent/two cents
- to be not worth anything, to be not of any value
The antique desk is not worth two cents although everybody thinks it is very valuable. 
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