IdiomTopic: money

a cash cow

/ə ˈkæʃ ˌkaʊ/NEUTRAL · C1

Meaning

a reliable source of profit

Examples

1The parking business became a cash cow, earning steady profits with little extra investment.
2They used their most reliable product as a cash cow to fund new research.
3That old software is a cash cow: yearly subscriptions still generate enormous profits.
4Why close a cash cow that earns enough to support the entire business?
5The rental property is a cash cow, generating reliable monthly profits rather than sitting idle as a reserve.

Grammar

A countable noun phrase. Use an article in the singular and change cow to cows in the plural.

Similar in meaning

in the black

More idioms about money

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

bring home the baconto earn money to support a family foot the billto pay for something go Dutchto share the cost, with each person paying for their own part money talksmoney gives people power and influence strapped for cashshort of money rolling in itvery rich

English Idioms

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