Definition

Noun: - Quick or easy earnings: Money obtained with little effort, often through a scheme or opportunistic activity that prioritizes speed and ease over ethics or sustainability.

Usage

This noun phrase is typically used in informal contexts to describe income acquired rapidly and with minimal labor, frequently implying a lack of scruples or a short-term, exploitative approach. It often carries a negative or disapproving connotation.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to make a fast buck": This is the most common collocation, meaning to earn money quickly and easily.
  • The company was accused of cutting corners just to make a fast buck.

Variants and Related Words

• Quick buck: A synonymous phrase with identical meaning and usage.
  • He's after a quick buck, not a long-term investment.

Synonyms

• Easy money: Money earned without much effort.
• Quick profit: A gain made rapidly, especially on a financial transaction.

Related Idioms

• "Make a quick killing": To make a large profit in a very short time, often in business or finance. This shares the connotation of speed but often implies a larger sum than a "fast buck."
  • They made a quick killing in the stock market.

Noun

1. quick or easy earnings, "they are traders out to make a fast buck"