“Cold hard cash”in other languages
Real money in coins and bills, not promises or credit.
English
French
Spanish
EnglishFrenchSpanishSame idea, different pictures
English stresses that the money is solid: in the 1700s “hard cash” meant coins rather than paper. French and Spanish listen to it instead. Coins that ring, sonnantes, sonante, are real metal.
French adds a second test: trébuchantes, heavy enough to tip the trébuchet, the small balance used to catch coins that had been clipped or faked.
More sayings in other languages
- Come hell or high water
- Come home to roost
- Come what may
- Mad as a hatter
- Cool one's heels
- Cost an arm and a leg
- Not give a hoot
- Count on the fingers of one hand
- Cry over spilled milk