hard cash

American  

noun

1. actual money as distinguished from checks or credit.

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hard cash British  

noun

1. money or payment in the form of coins or notes rather than cheques or credit

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hard cash Idioms  

1. see cold cash.

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Example Sentences

Young tech companies once might have complemented lower salaries with generous equity packages, but now they’re turning to cold hard cash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

On Sunday there is nothing at stake other than likes, shares, broadcast ratings and cold, hard cash.

From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025

There is only emptiness: a hollow space where a heart should be, ready to be filled with cold, hard cash.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2025

"But we need people to volunteer, we need food, and also we need cold, hard cash."

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025

They had originally come to our shores in the train of the Conqueror's army, thus conveniently enabling the Norman soldiers to turn their English loot into hard cash.

From Highways and Byways in Cambridge and Ely by Conybeare, Edward