23/03/2026
If you want to sound more natural when talking about money in English (especially for IELTS), stop using basic words like “rich” or “expensive” and switch to idioms:
1. Talking about being rich:
Instead of “rich,” say “loaded” or “rolling in money.” If someone spends freely, they “have money to burn.”
2. Talking about being broke:
“Broke” is the most common. If it’s temporary, say “strapped for cash.” A stronger one is “live from hand to mouth.”
3. Spending money:
“Splash out” means spending a lot. If something is very expensive, it “costs an arm and a leg.”
4. Saving & investing:
“Put money aside” (save regularly), “rainy day fund” (emergency savings), and “ROI” (return on investment).
5. Talking about value:
“Worth every penny” (very valuable) vs “not worth a dime” (no value).
One tip: don’t try to use all of them. Just 1–2 idioms used naturally is enough to sound fluent and get a higher IELTS score.
Save this post and start using a few today.