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

“All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there’s too much easy money,” Colvin said.

From Los Angeles Times

Batangouna denounced what he said was young folk's obsession with easy money, and the damage they were doing to the once vast forests next to the village.

From Barron's

Price-to-earnings ratios have ratcheted sharply higher in recent weeks, suggesting much of the rally’s easy money has already been made.

From Barron's

Warsh built his reputation as a hawk by warning for years that easy money would fuel inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nearly ten months later, however, the easy money appears to have been made.

From Barron's