Native English speakers often use verbs in phrases with a meaning distinct from literal meaning of the original verb. This causes problems for students of English because they often misinterpret the meaning of context. In this post we will study a list of Phrasal Verbs related to the important area of money.
For example:
- To lay out: To send money especially a large amount. E.g. I laid out a lot of money on the purchase of the new house.
- To splash out: to spend extravagantly on something that is pleasurable or necessary, such as I splashed out on a new suit for the interview or I splashed out on Christmas presents.
- To run up: to create a large debt, as in I ran up a huge bill this Christmas.
- To fork out or fork over: To spend money on something you would rather have avoided, as in I forked out for the parking fine.
- To shell out: To be forced to pay for something, as in I had to shell out £500 in car repairs.
- To cough up: To provide money unwillingly, as in I had to cough up £50 in administration fees to the bank.
- To get by: To have just enough money for your needs as in I just get by on my salary.
- To scrape by: To manage to live frugally on very little money, as in I scrape by on my scholarship money.
- To bail out: To help a person or organisation out of a difficult financial situation, as in, The taxpayer had to bail out the banks in the recent financial crisis.
- To tide over: To help a person or an institution with money for a limited time only, as in I will lend you £50 to tide you over until your next pay day.
- To pay back: To return money owed to someone or to enact revenge, as in I paid backall in money I owed or I paid him back for the insult he gave me.
- To pay off: To return money lent or the reward for something done, as in I paid off my debt to the bank in installments or The pay off for my study was a better job.
- To save up: To keep money for a large future expense, as in, I am saving up for a new car.
- To Put Aside: To save money for a specific purpose. I put aside £200 a month for my retirement.
- To dip into: To spend part of your savings, as in, I had to dip into my retirement fund to pay for the extensions to the house.
- To break into: To start to use money you have saved. I had to break into my Christmas savings to pay for the new curtains.