Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Make a killing

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Make a killing" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourResources, Money, & Value collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Resources, Money, & Value

Make a killing

Make a killing
To earn a very large amount of money quickly and easily, typically from a single business deal, investment, or successful venture.
History & Origin

The idiom originated in the late 19th century, drawing a parallel between a highly successful hunting expedition—where a single 'killing' provided an abundance of food—and financial success. It gained widespread popularity in the financial world and stock markets, where making a massive profit on a quick trade felt like capturing prime game. Over time, it transitioned from Wall Street slang into everyday English to describe any highly lucrative venture.

Examples
News/Media

The tech startup's early investors made a killing when the company went public last Tuesday, with share prices skyrocketing by 200%.

Casual Conversation

My brother bought a few vintage comic books at a garage sale for ten dollars and made a killing by reselling them online for a thousand.

Workplace Email

If we can secure the distribution rights for this software before our competitors do, our regional branch stands to make a killing this quarter.

Formal Speech

While many traditional retail sectors struggled during the economic downturn, local e-commerce logistics firms managed to make a killing by adapting to new consumer habits.

Academic Writing

Economists note that while speculative trading allows a small minority of market participants to make a killing, it simultaneously introduces high volatility for average investors.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After working hard at the factory for forty years, the honest laborer finally managed to make a killing.

B. She decided to make a killing by donating all of her lottery winnings to a local children's hospital.

C. They bought the beachfront property just before the tourism boom and made a killing when they sold it three months later.

D. Because the restaurant was completely empty all weekend, the owner was able to make a killing.