A quick buck

Meaning

The idiom "a quick buck" is used to describe a situation or business opportunity that provides immediate financial gains, often without much effort or time required. It implies that the person who takes advantage of this opportunity will receive a significant amount of money quickly.

Usage

• After struggling to find work for months, John finally landed a job that paid him "a quick buck."
• The investor was looking for a quick buck when they decided to put their money into the promising startup.
• The hacker managed to steal sensitive data and demanded "a quick buck" from the company in exchange for returning it.
• The city council approved the construction project, which promised to bring in millions of dollars in revenue for the community, providing a "quick buck" for everyone involved.
• The salesman had been struggling to make commissions until he found the product that guaranteed him "a quick buck." The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a positive or negative sense, depending on the situation. For example, someone might use it to describe a job opportunity they are excited about, while another person might use it to refer to an illegal act that provides immediate financial gain.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is not entirely clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 19th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of buying and selling stocks quickly, with the hope of making a profit by trading them before the market closes. Another theory suggests that it comes from the practice of hiring seasonal workers for short-term jobs that pay well, such as harvesting crops or skiing. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has evolved to include any situation or business opportunity that provides immediate financial gain. It is now commonly used in contemporary language to describe a wide range of scenarios, from starting a successful business to engaging in illegal activities.

Synonyms in English

• "A quick buck" can also be referred to as "a quick dollar."
• "A quick payday" and "a quick fortune" are other synonyms for this idiom.
• "An easy money scheme" or "a get-rich-quick scam" can also be used to describe a situation that promises immediate financial gain without much effort.

Synonyms in other languages

• In Spanish, the idiom "money for nothing" translates to "dinero sin trabajo." It has the same meaning as "a quick buck" and is often used to describe situations that provide immediate financial gain with little or no effort required.
• In French, the idiom "le bonne chance" translates to "good luck." While not an idiom specifically related to money, it can be used in a similar way to describe a situation that has the potential for success and financial gain.
• In Italian, the idiom "la ricetta di successo" translates to "the recipe for success." This idiom is often used to describe situations or business opportunities that have the potential for success and financial gain.
• In Japanese, the idiom "やりとりする" (yari tori suru) translates to "to go back and forth." It can be used to describe situations in which people are negotiating or trying to find a compromise, with the hope of achieving their goals quickly.
• In German, the idiom "lucke" translates to "trick." While not an idiom specifically related to money, it can be used in a similar way to describe situations that involve deception or manipulation in order to achieve immediate financial gain.

Similar Idioms

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• as well as

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