filthy lucre

noun

1. money:

   to lose one's health for the sake of filthy lucre.

Word History and Origins

Origin of filthy lucre¹

First recorded in 1520–30

Idioms and Phrases

Money; originally, money obtained dishonestly. For example, She didn't like the job but loved the filthy lucre in the form of her weekly paycheck . This term comes from the Bible (Titus 1:11), where it refers to those who teach wrongly for the sake of money. In time it came to be used loosely, and usually jokingly, for money in general, and in the mid-1900s gave rise to the jocular slang term the filthy for “money.” Although both versions may be dying out, the expression filthy rich , for “extremely wealthy,” survives.

Example Sentences

At this point in his life, Denton has enough filthy lucre in his bank account to affect a certain lack of interest in the stuff.

From The Daily Beast

Let us no longer cheat our consciences by talking of filthy lucre.

From Project Gutenberg

Who made unfair use of government information to speculate in the funds for the sake of "filthy lucre?"

From Project Gutenberg

We are less lucky in that respect; we have to cast our pearls before swine too often, and all for the sake of filthy lucre.'

From Project Gutenberg

You are all after the filthy lucre, wantin' to live on other folks.'

From Project Gutenberg

Gid-up might hesitate or refuse to supply or manufacture information for filthy lucre, but Gee-gee was known to be ambitious.

From Project Gutenberg