easy money
Profit without effort
Easy money is income gained with little effort or risk: He thought day trading would be easy money.
The phrase often implies skepticism—schemes promising easy money usually aren't.
In economics, easy money refers to monetary policy with low interest rates and accessible credit, making borrowing cheap: The Fed's easy money policies fueled the housing boom.
Hastily earned profit
- fast buckRapidly earned money
- gravyThickened meat drippings
- gravy trainEffortless source of income
- cash cowDependable income source
meal ticket · golden goose · free lunch · cushy · slush
Accumulated gambling prize
- casinoFacility for wagering
- lotteryRandomized prize distribution
- bettingStaking money on outcomes
- slotsNarrow elongated openings
poker · blackjack · roulette · wagering · bookie · sweepstakes · high-roller · craps
Intentional criminal trickery
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
rip-off · flimflam · racket · hustle · phishing · pyramid scheme · Ponzi · bunco
Property received from ancestors
- bequestGift left by will
- lottery winningsPrize from random drawing
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
prize · trust fund · gift · grant · endowment · largesse · benefaction · manna
Corporate profit share
- royaltyPayment for usage rights
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
- rental incomeEarnings from leased property
- annuityPeriodic fixed payment
residuals · licensing fees · ad revenue · investment returns · yield · side hustle
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- payolaBribes for airplay
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
backhander · cronyism · nepotism · shakedown · skimming · palm-greasing · slush fund · sweetener
quick buck
Hastily earned profit
- fast buckRapidly earned money
- gravyThickened meat drippings
- gravy trainEffortless source of income
cash cow · meal ticket · golden goose · free lunch · cushy · slush
jackpot
Accumulated gambling prize
slots · poker · blackjack · roulette · wagering · bookie · sweepstakes · high-roller · craps · keno
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
scheme · rip-off · flimflam · racket · hustle · phishing · pyramid scheme · Ponzi · bunco · shell game
inheritance
Property received from ancestors
- bequestGift left by will
- lottery winningsPrize from random drawing
- bonusReward beyond expectation
settlement · prize · trust fund · gift · grant · endowment · largesse · benefaction · manna · golden parachute
dividend
Corporate profit share
- royaltyPayment for usage rights
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
- rental incomeEarnings from leased property
annuity · residuals · licensing fees · ad revenue · investment returns · yield · side hustle
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
under-the-table · backhander · cronyism · nepotism · shakedown · skimming · palm-greasing · slush fund · sweetener · payoff
- gambling lingoall in, ante up, raise the stakes, go all in, high roller
- Braggingbrag, gloat, show off, flex, swagger
- easy moneyquick buck, fast cash, windfall, gravy train, free lunch
- Easy Thingssimple, child's play, walk in the park, no sweat, piece of cake
- money slangbucks, dough, moolah, cheddar, cash
- market bubblesbubble, asset bubble, tulip mania, dot-com bubble, housing bubble
easy moneyblood money
Payment tied to death
sweat equity · toil · earned income · grinding · working for a living
easy moneytight money
Restricted credit supply
tight credit · hard money · credit crunch · high interest rates
money, easy, ease, uneasy, easing, easier, eased, uneasiness, easiest