IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishmoney burns a hole in someone's pocket
Meaning: Someone cannot keep money without spending it.
Example: “Give him his allowance, and it burns a hole in his pocket by lunchtime.”
Origin: As if coins were so hot they had to be spent before they burned through. The phrase is found from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: Avere le mani bucate Literally: To have holed hands
French: Un panier percé Literally: A pierced basket
More English idioms
- jump through hoops To go through many difficult or pointless steps to get something.
- grease someone's palm To bribe someone.
- go by shanks' mare To walk; to travel on foot.
- like a duck to water Naturally and easily, as if born to it.
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs To destroy a source of profit out of greed.
- with one's tail between one's legs Humiliated and defeated.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
Keep exploring