made a killing
Earned huge profits
Made a killing means earned a large profit, usually quickly or unexpectedly: He made a killing in the stock market before the crash.
The phrase suggests windfall success rather than steady gains—getting rich from a single deal, investment, or venture.
Despite the violent imagery, the expression is entirely innocuous.
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- profitGain exceeding expenditure
- lucrativeYielding substantial profit
- hit the big timeAchieve major success
- bonanzaSudden large windfall
jackpot · fortune · cashed out · hit the jackpot · struck gold · boon · hit it big · money spinner · cash in · easy money · earnings · quick buck · cleaned up · luck · revenue · serendipity · golden opportunity · timing
financial outcome
made a killingwent bankrupt
Declared legally insolvent
took a bath · crashed and burned · went under · tanked · broke even
made, making, makers, remake, remade, remaking, unmade, kill, kills