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Money Collocations and Spending Insights

Henry and his brother grew up in a family where money was always tight. Henry wanted to make big money and be seriously rich, not just earn a steady income like his brother. He started earning money from a young age by selling sandwiches and working in holidays. He saved this money and invested it to buy his first shop, getting a good deal. By age 20, he had made a small fortune through his business, though most of his money was tied up in the business.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
470 views2 pages

Money Collocations and Spending Insights

Henry and his brother grew up in a family where money was always tight. Henry wanted to make big money and be seriously rich, not just earn a steady income like his brother. He started earning money from a young age by selling sandwiches and working in holidays. He saved this money and invested it to buy his first shop, getting a good deal. By age 20, he had made a small fortune through his business, though most of his money was tied up in the business.

Uploaded by

Lịch Phạm
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Money
  • Exercises

37 Money

A Spending money
Here are some verbs which often collocate with money.

collocation meaning example

spend money (on) give money as payment for something Juan spends a lot of money on travelling.

save money keep money for use in the future We’re saving a little money each month
to buy a new car next year.

waste/squander spend money in a bad way; squander is Sara wasted/squandered all her money
money (on) stronger and is only used about large on clothes and fast cars.
sums of money

change money exchange one currency for another, You can change some money at the
e.g. dollars for euros airport.

throw money spend money in an obvious and If Jim keeps on throwing his money around
around careless way on unnecessary things like that, he soon won’t have any left.

throw money at spend a lot of money, possibly more than The government think they can solve the
necessary, trying to solve a problem problem by throwing money at it.

donate money (to) give money to help society in some way The business donates a lot of money
each year to charity.

B Prices
Many collocations including the word price are connected with height. Prices can be high or low.
If they are very low, they may be called (usually by advertisers) rock-bottom prices. Prices may
increase, prices go up and prices rise. If they go up very fast we say that prices soar. Occasionally
prices go down. If you say that something is reasonably priced, you think it is neither too cheap
nor too expensive. Calling something a ridiculous price may mean it is much too cheap or much
too expensive.

C Getting money
Henry and his brother grew up in a family where money was always tight1. Henry hoped that when
he was grown-up, money would be never be in short supply for him. Henry’s brother only wanted
a steady income but Henry wasn’t interested in just earning a good salary, he wanted to make big
money2, to be seriously rich3. He started making money at school when he sold the sandwiches his
mother had made him to other children. He also worked in his school holidays to earn money. He
put this money in a bank account and hardly ever made a withdrawal4 from it. When he left school,
he raised enough money through the bank to buy his first shop. He got a really good deal5 because
he found a shop that was going cheap6. By the time he was twenty he had already made a small
fortune7 though, of course, most of his money was tied up8 in his business.
1
there wasn’t much money
2
informal: a lot of money
3
informal: very rich
4
took money out of the bank
5
informal: got a bargain
6
informal: selling for a low price
7
made a large amount of money
8
not available for spending because
it was needed for his business

78 English Collocations in Use Intermediate


Exercises

37.1 Read these remarks by different people, then answer the questions.
Lauren: I sent 100 euros to the Children’s Fund for the Developing World.
Anthony: I went into the bank with 1,000 euros and came out with the equivalent in
Australian dollars.
Patrick: I won 100,000 dollars on the lottery and bought stupid, useless things.
I have almost nothing left now.
Emilia: The garden was in a terrible mess after the storm. I paid a gardener a lot of
money to sort it out but he didn’t seem to make it any better.
Hannah: I put 5,000 euros in an account which gives 4% interest.

name
1 Who threw money at something?
2 Who saved money?
3 Who donated money?
4 Who squandered money?
5 Who changed money?

37.2 Complete these sentences using collocations from B opposite. Use each collocation once only.
1 In January, the price of gold was 35,000 dollars a kilo. In July it was 44,000 dollars. In just six
months the price had .............................................. .
2 An airline is offering a return flight from London to New York for just 50 dollars. At first sight this
seems like a ..............................................., as many people on the same flight will be paying 1,000 dollars
or more.
3 Given that most first-class hotels were charging 350 dollars a night because of the festival, at 275
dollars our four-star hotel seemed .............................................. .
4 Tablet computers are now selling at .............................................. prices because there’s so much competition.
One that cost 150 dollars a year ago now costs only 70.
5 Car prices .............................................. down last year, but they will probably .............................................. again before
the end of the year as steel becomes more expensive.
37.3 Choose the correct collocation.
1 Bank assistant: Can I help you?
Customer: Yes. I’d like to take / get / make a withdrawal from my account, please.
2 Bank Manager: Is your company getting / making / taking money?
Business customer: Yes. We are in profit. So I have a firm / steady / strong income.
3 Teenage son: Dad, will you lend me some money to buy a car?
Father: Well, money is rather slim / hard / tight at the moment. Ask your mother.
4 Jake: These cameras aren’t as expensive as I thought.
 Fran: They’re going / asking / giving cheap right now because a new model has just come out.
The new ones are ridiculously expensive because they are in such low / short / little supply.
5 George: We need to bring up / rise / raise money for the new gym. Any ideas?
Joe: Well, we could have a children’s sports day and get all the parents to contribute.
6 Mick: You must have made a slight / slim / small fortune when you sold your house.
Kathy: Yes, I did, but the money is all closed up / tied up / packed up in the new one.
7 Oscar: I guess Zara is making big / large / huge money with her Internet business.
 Erica: Oh yes, she’s absolutely / utterly / seriously rich now.

English Collocations in Use Intermediate 79

Common questions

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Cultural attitudes toward saving and earning profoundly influence language use, with certain collocations reflecting underlying values. For instance, 'save money' emphasizes foresight and planning, popular in societies that value financial security. Conversely, 'make big money' highlights ambition and success, resonating with cultures that admire entrepreneurship. These collocations embody cultural narratives about money's role, shaping how individuals prioritize activities like investment versus consumption .

A 'reasonable price' contributes significantly to consumer trust and market stability as it assures buyers of fair value, balancing affordability with quality expectations. When prices are perceived as fair, they can enhance customer loyalty and reduce market volatility by preventing extreme fluctuations driven by speculative behavior. This stability fosters an environment where both consumers and producers can plan and make informed decisions, promoting healthier economic activity .

'Throw money at' implies spending a significant amount of money, more than necessary, to solve a problem. This approach is often criticized because it suggests a lack of strategic planning and may not address the root causes of issues. While it may provide a temporary solution, the underlying problems often persist. Additionally, this strategy can lead to financial waste and inefficiency, as seen in contexts where government intervention fails to produce sustainable results .

When 'money is tight,' it significantly influences individual financial decisions by encouraging more conservative spending and greater emphasis on saving. Individuals may prioritize essential expenses and reduce discretionary spending. They may also set specific financial goals to improve their situation, such as seeking better job opportunities or budgeting more strictly to increase disposable income for future use. In planning for future earnings, individuals might pursue higher education or skills development to secure roles that offer better financial stability .

Prices that are 'soaring' indicate rapid increases that can lead to inflationary pressures and reduce consumer purchasing power. Such dynamics may cause concerns among policy makers regarding economic stability and affordability for the average consumer. In contrast, prices that are 'reasonably priced' suggest an equilibrium where markets balance between producer profits and consumer access. This stability can lead to sustainable economic growth as it supports predictable spending and budgeting among households .

'Making big money' refers to earning a significantly high income, often associated with wealth and the potential for luxury living. In contrast, having a 'steady income' implies consistent earnings that provide financial stability but not necessarily wealth accumulation. Lifestyle implications include varied spending habits; those making big money might engage more in luxury spending, such as buying expensive items or investing heavily, whereas individuals with a steady income are likely to focus on budgeting and saving .

Describing a price as 'ridiculous' implies that it is perceived as unreasonable, either too high or too low, which often evokes strong emotional reactions. From a consumer's perspective, it can signal exploitation or market failure if prices are seen as excessively high. Alternatively, prices that are too low might suggest poor quality or unsustainable business practices. This perception affects trust in the marketplace and can steer consumer behavior towards caution or curiosity, depending on context .

When a business 'donates money' to society, it strengthens community relations by showing commitment to societal causes, boosting public image, and potentially increasing consumer loyalty. From a corporate perspective, these actions improve employee morale and can provide tax benefits. Philanthropy also differentiates a company from competitors, which can attract socially conscious investors and enhance long-term sustainability through improved stakeholder relationships .

Solving systemic economic issues by merely 'throwing money' at them is often infeasible because it overlooks the complexities involved. While infusing capital can provide short-term relief, it seldom addresses structural problems such as policy deficiencies or resource allocation inefficiencies. Effective problem-solving requires comprehensive strategies, including policy reforms, stakeholder engagement, and efficient resource use, to achieve sustainable outcomes beyond financial inputs .

Collocations involving 'spend money,' such as 'waste money,' 'squander money,' 'throw money around,' and 'spend money on,' reflect various attitudes towards financial management. 'Waste money' and 'squander money' imply careless and irresponsible financial behavior, often criticized in economic discourse. 'Throw money around' suggests reckless spending, typically for show. Conversely, 'spend money on' is neutral, highlighting the specific use of funds without judgment on its appropriateness. These linguistic choices reveal underlying values and priorities, indicating either a mindset of careless consumption or strategic investment .

A
78
English Collocations in Use Intermediate
C
Spending money
Here are some verbs which often collocate with money.
Prices
M
Exercises
79
English Collocations in Use Intermediate
Read these remarks by different people, then answer the questions.
	 La

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