smart money

American  

noun

1. money invested or wagered by experienced investors or bettors.

2. such knowledgeable investors or bettors.

3. Law. punitive or exemplary damages.

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smart money British  

noun

1. 1. money bet or invested by experienced gamblers or investors, esp with inside information

   2. the gamblers or investors themselves

2. money paid in order to extricate oneself from an unpleasant situation or agreement, esp from military service

3. money paid by an employer to someone injured while working for him

4. law damages awarded to a plaintiff where the wrong was aggravated by fraud, malice, etc

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Etymology

Origin of smart money

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Those trades are often closely watched by market participants seeking to track the so-called smart money.

From Barron's

As a result, the smart money — and all the money that follows the smart money — has lost confidence in central bankers, making gold the most logical and available hedge.

From MarketWatch

At the moment, the smart money is on Dame Antonia Romero - the current permanent secretary at the Home Office - getting the top job.

From BBC

Individual investors often wonder what the “smart money” is buying.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The smart money is rotating into sectors where valuations actually reflect fundamentals. Small and midcaps are trading near decade lows relative to Big Tech while earnings growth is only marginally lower,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• asset
• contribution
• expenditure
• expense
• finance
• financing
• grant
• loan
• money
• property
• purchase
• stake
• transaction
• venture