«The rich» language: talking about money in English

Let’s start with the fact that these synonyms very, very much. In our imperfect world money plays an important role. Different social groups have different relationships with them, but the money has to deal with every day. Here and there a lot of names that reflect some definite attitude to money, for example, significant neglect. So there is what we call slang. Only on this later, we’ll start all the same with common names for money.

Common kinds of money in English

Firstly, there are banknotes and coins. Banknote (American English — bill) — a piece of paper money — note, bill. Coin — money made ​​of metal — coins. Sometimes a coin is named after the metal from which they are made, for example: copper (copper), silver (silver).

If someone offers you to flip a coin, you have to choose heads or tails. Heads (Eagle) — this is the side of the coin, which depicts some famous person, or rather his head, hence the name. Despite the fact that the coin has no tail, it is called tails (tails), perhaps to emphasize the contrast heads.

There exists an expression of «Heads I win, tails you lose», which means a win-win situation for anyone. Look do not get caught like Joey from the TV series Friends! 🙂

Cheque / check (check) — a piece of paper where you write an amount of money you have to pay for service. You do not need to have real money to pay for things if you pay with cheque.

Cash (Cash) — money in form of coins or banknotes as distinct from credit cars or cheques; readily available money. Another option — hard cash. There is an expression of petty cash (pocket money) — a small amount of money that is kept in an office for making small payments.

Change (renting or change) — if you pay for something with more money than the thing or service costs, then you will get some coins in return. You have a little thing that is constantly lost in a bag or pocket? This loose change.

Funds (fund capital of the company) — amount of money that an organization has or requires to have.

You must be wondering how the money is called in Canada? Offer see the following video:

Money in slang rappers

Now, as promised, not just talk about general synonymous with money, a how money is called slang. As you know, slang — words used by certain groups of people. We decided to narrow down our list and dwell on the slang term for money that is used in the American rap music. This choice is not accidental, because the money and the associated benefits — a very popular theme in the songs of this style. The etymology of these expressions can be very amusing, but often it is too difficult to follow and you have to guess. Next, look at a few interesting examples.

The names that are associated with famous people

Benjamins — $ 100. They call these notes in honor of Benjamin Franklin (Benjamin Franklin), which is depicted on them. This man played a very important role in the formation of the American state. He is one of the founding fathers of the United States (The Founding Fathers of the United States of America), as it is with the other signed the Declaration of Independence (United States Declaration of Independence) and the Constitution of the United States (United States Constitution).

A few interesting facts about the hundred-dollar bills:

• Since 1969, this is the biggest bill at face value (used to be $ 500, $ 1,000, $ 5,000, $ 10,000).
• This is one of the two bills, which are not shown in the former US president. Other — 10-dollar bill depicting Alexander Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton), who, like Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers.
• Another hundred-dollar bills are called C-notes, according to Roman numbering, where 100 is designated as C.

Similarly, use the word Jacksons — $ 20. On the «Top Twenty» depicts Andrew Jackson (Andrew Jackson), seventh president of the United States.

Dead Presidents — in continuation of the theme. As already mentioned, the majority represent outstanding bills of US presidents, hence the name — Dead Presidents. Alas, living individuals are not often appear on the banknotes.

The terms that have occurred from the names of food

Bread — obvious parallel with the fact that the bread at all times was considered one of the main products, without which man can not survive. This metaphorical meaning of bread, of course, began to be used much earlier. Even in the Bible it is found «our daily bread» — «our daily bread». By analogy, this word is used in such an English idiom like «someone’s bread and butter» — a basic income or activity that gives you this income.

John does not like his job but it is his bread and butter. — John does not like his job, but that’s what he did for a bread and butter.

The same applies to the words of dough, which literally means «dough» and is also used to mean «money».

Cheddar / chedda. As is known, cheddar — this kind of cheese. It is more difficult to trace the origin of the term, though it is quite popular in the hip-hop songs. One version involves here an allusion to the so-called «government cheese». The C 60’s to the 90’s as part of a special program the US government provided the needy sectors of society free cheese. Perhaps the fact that the cheese was issued ordinary people those who are in power, has caused some financial associations in those who started using cheddar in this sense. Although this is only speculation.

Lettuce — which means lettuce. Here, fortunately, everything is easier — lettuce green as dollars. 🙂

Other variants of the name of money slang

Lucci / luchini — the word is derived from the Biblical expression filthy lucre — filthy lucre. Normally by this word mean money obtained by dishonest means.

Racks — comes from another word slang term stack, t. E. $ 1,000. If you add multiple stacks at each other, we get the rack, which can look like this:

By the way, the money in a hip-hop song called bands. In general, bands — gum is used in order to secure money in the stack.

Fetti — the word comes from Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area). There are two assumptions about its origin. The first — the word comes from the Spanish word feria (money). The second — an abbreviation of confetti, which also has a right to exist, because the money is often called «paper» and many probably would not mind to get under the «money rain» like the one that suits the holidays, using colored paper confetti!

In conclusion, we offer you to listen to some fragments of songs and interviews and try to determine which of these slang to refer to money used in English in them.

 

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