Greed is a powerful human trait, often tied to wealth, power, or excessive desire. These idioms illustrate different shades of greed and how it affects people.
1. Greedy Guts
Meaning: Someone who takes more than they need.
Example: “Don’t be a greedy guts—leave some cake for others!”
Tone: Playful, mildly critical.
Other ways to say it: Hog, selfish eater.
2. Avarice Knows No Bounds
Meaning: Greed has no limits.
Example: “His avarice knows no bounds—he always wants more money.”
Tone: Critical, serious.
Other ways to say it: Insatiable greed, endless desire.
3. Filthy Lucre
Meaning: Money gained dishonestly.
Example: “He made his fortune through filthy lucre, not hard work.”
Tone: Negative, disapproving.
Other ways to say it: Ill-gotten gains, dirty money.
4. Grasping at Straws
Meaning: Desperately trying to gain or hold onto something.
Example: “He was grasping at straws to keep control of the company.”
Tone: Desperate, negative.
Other ways to say it: Clutching at hope, grasping for power.
5. Money Grubber
Meaning: Someone obsessed with wealth.
Example: “He’s a real money grubber, never satisfied with what he has.”
Tone: Insulting, judgmental.
Other ways to say it: Penny pincher, gold digger.
6. Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
Meaning: Saving small amounts but wasting large ones.
Example: “He’s penny wise, pound foolish—cutting staff but overspending on luxuries.”
Tone: Critical, wise.
Other ways to say it: Shortsighted, bad financial planning.
7. The More You Have, The More You Want
Meaning: Greed grows with wealth.
Example: “She keeps buying new cars—proving the more you have, the more you want.”
Tone: Observational, warning.
Other ways to say it: Never satisfied, endless craving.
8. Take the Lion’s Share
Meaning: Take the biggest portion.
Example: “He always takes the lion’s share of the profits.”
Tone: Neutral, factual.
Other ways to say it: Hoard, keep the most.
9. A Dog in the Manger
Meaning: Preventing others from having something you don’t need.
Example: “He won’t share his tools, even though he never uses them—a real dog in the manger!”
Tone: Negative, blaming.
Other ways to say it: Selfish, possessive.
10. All for One and None for All
Meaning: Selfishness, the opposite of teamwork.
Example: “His leadership style is all for one and none for all.”
Tone: Critical, accusatory.
Other ways to say it: Self-centered, greedy.
11. Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Meaning: Wanting everything without sacrifice.
Example: “He wants to work less but earn more—trying to have his cake and eat it too.”
Tone: Critical, skeptical.
Other ways to say it: Want it both ways, unrealistic demands.
12. Golden Handshake
Meaning: A large payout for leaving a company.
Example: “The CEO received a golden handshake when he resigned.”
Tone: Neutral, financial.
Other ways to say it: Generous severance, big payout.
13. Gold Digger
Meaning: Someone who pursues wealth through relationships.
Example: “People suspected she married him for money—calling her a gold digger.”
Tone: Judgmental, critical.
Other ways to say it: Fortune hunter, money chaser.
14. Keeping Up with the Joneses
Meaning: Competing to have more than others.
Example: “They keep buying new gadgets just to keep up with the Joneses.”
Tone: Observational, slightly critical.
Other ways to say it: Status chasing, materialistic.
15. A Cash Cow
Meaning: A profitable resource.
Example: “Their old product is still a cash cow, bringing in steady revenue.”
Tone: Neutral, business-like.
Other ways to say it: Moneymaker, financial asset.
16. Feathering One’s Nest
Meaning: Using a position for personal gain.
Example: “The corrupt politician was accused of feathering his own nest.”
Tone: Disapproving, critical.
Other ways to say it: Self-enrichment, misusing power.
17. Hands in the Till
Meaning: Stealing money from a business.
Example: “The accountant was caught with his hands in the till.”
Tone: Criminal, serious.
Other ways to say it: Embezzlement, theft.
18. A Money Pit
Meaning: Something that continuously requires spending.
Example: “That old car is a money pit—it breaks down every month.”
Tone: Frustrated, negative.
Other ways to say it: Wasteful expense, financial drain.
19. Wolf at the Door
Meaning: Financial danger or debt.
Example: “After losing his job, he had the wolf at the door.”
Tone: Serious, worried.
Other ways to say it: Financial struggle, debt trouble.
20. To Line One’s Pockets
Meaning: To make money dishonestly.
Example: “The corrupt official was lining his pockets with taxpayer money.”
Tone: Negative, accusatory.
Other ways to say it: Stealing, self-serving.
21. Rolling in Dough
Meaning: Having a lot of money.
Example: “After selling his business, he’s rolling in dough.”
Tone: Informal, envious.
Other ways to say it: Wealthy, loaded.
22. Born with a Silver Spoon in One’s Mouth
Meaning: Born into wealth.
Example: “He never worked a day in his life—born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”
Tone: Critical, observational.
Other ways to say it: Privileged, inherited wealth.
23. Fat Cat
Meaning: A wealthy and powerful person.
Example: “The fat cats of Wall Street control the economy.”
Tone: Critical, political.
Other ways to say it: Big shot, rich elite.
24. Cupidity
Meaning: Extreme greed for wealth.
Example: “His cupidity led him to betray his friends for money.”
Tone: Formal, negative.
Other ways to say it: Excessive greed, materialism.
Conclusion
Greed appears in many forms, from wealth obsession to selfishness. These idioms highlight how greed influences behavior, business, and daily life.
