cash in hand
Immediate spending power
Cash in hand is money held as physical currency rather than in accounts or investments: We need five hundred cash in hand before we start the job.
The phrase often implies immediate availability or payment outside formal channels—work paid cash in hand may be off the books, avoiding tax reporting.
In British usage, also cash in hand.
Secret and unofficial
- off-the-booksUnrecorded for tax purposes
- unreportedNot officially documented
- undeclaredNot officially acknowledged
- moonlightingCovert additional employment
day labor · gig work · side hustle · casual work · odd jobs · tax evasion · unregulated · black market
Fulfilling a financial obligation
- currencyMedium of exchange
- banknotesPaper currency notes
- coinsMetal money units
- notesBrief written records
bills · ready money · no credit · on the spot · exact change · direct payment · pocket money · spending money
under-the-table
Secret and unofficial
- off-the-booksUnrecorded for tax purposes
- unreportedNot officially documented
- undeclaredNot officially acknowledged
moonlighting · day labor · gig work · side hustle · casual work · odd jobs · tax evasion · unregulated · black market · nanny
payment
Fulfilling a financial obligation
notes · bills · ready money · no credit · on the spot · exact change · direct payment · pocket money · spending money · tip
- underground economyblack market, shadow economy, off the books, under the table, unreported income
- cashbills, banknotes, greenbacks, paper money, legal tender
- hidden incomeunreported income, undeclared, hidden income, off the books, under the table
- payoffsbribe, kickback, payoff, payola, baksheesh
cash in handcredit
Recognition or payment deferral
check · cheque · bank transfer · credit card · wire transfer
cash in handproperty
Something owned or inherent
real estate · accounts receivable · frozen funds · fixed assets · long-term investments
cash, hand, cashed, cashing, cashless, cashes, cashier, hands, handed