cash

Universal Words noun, verb noun [U] 1 money in the form of coins or notes/bills: How much cash do you have on you? * Payments can be made by cheque or in cash. * Customers are offered a 10% discount if they pay cash. * The thieves stole ｣500 in cash. seealsoHARDCASH, PETTYCASH 2 (informal) money in any form: The museum needs to find ways of raising cash. * I'm short of cash right now. * I'm constantly strapped for cash (= without enough money). * Local schools have been starved of cash for a number of years. IDIOMS cash down (BrE) (also cash up front AmE, BrE) with immediate payment of cash: to pay for sth cash down cash in hand (BrE, informal) if you pay for goods and services cash in hand, you pay in cash, especially so that the person being paid can avoid paying tax on the amount: a cash-in-hand payment of ｣20 cash on delivery (abbreviation COD) a system of paying for goods when they are delivered verb [VN] ~ a cheque / check to exchange a cheque/check for the amount of money that it is worth: Traveller's cheques can be cashed at most hotels. PHRASALVERBS cash in (on sth) (disapproving) to gain an advantage for yourself from a situation, especially in a way that other people think is wrong or immoral: The film studio is being accused of cashing in on the singer's death. cash sth<->in to exchange sth, such as an insurance policy, for money before the date on which it would normally end cash up (BrE) (AmE cash out) to add up the amount of money that has been received in a shop/store, club, etc., especially at the end of the day: The men broke into the office while staff were cashing up.