easy money

American  

noun

1. money obtained with a minimum of effort.

2. money obtained by deception, fraud, artifice, etc.

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easy money British  

noun

1. money made with little effort, sometimes dishonestly

2. commerce money that can be borrowed at a low interest rate

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easy money Idioms  

1. Money obtained readily, with little effort and, often, illegally. For example, Winning the lottery—that's easy money! or I was wary of making easy money with the insider tips I'd been given. [c. 1900] Also see fast buck.

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Etymology

Origin of easy money

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

With the easy money having been made this year on power and electricity companies linked to AI, investors will need a much more selective strategy to see gains in the sector for 2026.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025

More than Reiner’s success, however, I want to salute him as an artist who chose creative risks over easy money.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

“If there was any easy money lying around, no one would be forcing it into your pocket.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

When interest rates rose and the pandemic’s era of easy money ended, customers cut back on trading and Robinhood’s revenue plunged.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

They were, at least, agonizingly aware of the easy money in the vicinity and convinced that it was theirs for a few words in the right key.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald