idiom

Money Talks

MUN-ee TAWKS

/ˈmʌn.i tɔːks/

Listen

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Syllable breakdown

Moneytalks

Dictionary meaning

An idiom expressing that wealth gives people power, influence, and the ability to get what they want; money is a persuasive force in decisions and negotiations.

History and origin

English idiom, possibly derived from Latin 'pecunia non olet' (money doesn't smell); popularized in 20th-century American English

Examples

The board didn't care about ethics — money talks, and the merger made financial sense.
In politics, money talks — campaign donations shape policy agendas.

Synonyms: wealth buys influence, financial power wins, cash rules

Pronunciation tips

Sometimes extended to 'money talks, bullsh*t walks' — emphasizing that results (backed by cash) matter more than empty promises.

People also look up

Cost an arm and a leg

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