Money pit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "money pit" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation or investment that continually requires a lot of money to maintain or improve, often with little return. An example: "After buying the old house, I quickly realized it was a money pit, draining my savings with constant repairs." Alternative expressions include "financial drain" and "black hole."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Call it MPC, the Money Pit Channel.

The New York Times - Arts

It's also a money pit.

The Guardian - Travel

"It's a money pit," said Coelho.

Harvard University

Hulu isn't a money pit at all.

The Economist

Think your house is a money pit?

The Washington Post

It was a money pit on wheels.

The New York Times

A fourth asserted: "Haiti is a money pit.

The New York Times

It proved a money pit and closed two years later.

The New York Times

Historically, atomic energy has been a money pit.

The Economist

For Ford, Jaguar has been a glamorous money pit.

The Economist

The conversion was becoming a money pit as well.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "money pit", ensure the context clearly establishes the ongoing and often unsustainable nature of the expenses. This emphasizes the futility of the investment or commitment.

Common error

Avoid labeling a project or investment as a "money pit" if the high costs are expected to be temporary or lead to significant long-term gains. The term implies a continuous and ultimately unproductive drain on finances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "money pit" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies something—an object, project, or situation—that consumes a large amount of money continuously without yielding substantial returns. Ludwig's examples illustrate this across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "money pit" is a widely recognized and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe something that consumes significant funds without a proportional return. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent appearance in news and media, alongside more formal business contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure its usage accurately reflects continuous and unsustainable expenses. Alternatives like "financial black hole" or "cash drain" can be used for variety, but "money pit" itself remains a clear and effective term for conveying financial frustration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Financial sinkhole

Similar to "money pit", but perhaps with a stronger implication of sudden and unexpected loss.

Financial black hole

This alternative emphasizes the endless and consuming nature of the financial drain.

Cash drain

A more direct and simple way to describe something continuously losing money.

Bottomless pit of expenditure

Highlights the seemingly limitless costs associated with the subject.

Bleeding money

Suggests a rapid and uncontrolled loss of funds.

Endless drain on resources

Focuses on the continuous depletion of resources, not exclusively financial.

Financial burden

This alternative emphasizes the troublesome aspect of the financial commitment.

Constant source of expense

Stresses the continuous nature of the outgoing costs.

Economic quicksand

Implies that the situation is difficult to escape and can worsen rapidly.

Losing investment

Directly points out the unprofitability of the venture.

FAQs

How can I use "money pit" in a sentence?

You can say, "Renovating this old house has turned into a real "money pit"" or "The new software project is becoming a "money pit" with no end in sight".

What is a less common synonym for "money pit"?

A less common synonym for "money pit" is "financial sinkhole", which carries a similar meaning of something that endlessly consumes money.

Which is correct: "money pit" or "money-pit"?

"Money pit" is generally used as two separate words. The hyphenated version, "money-pit", is less common but can be used as a compound adjective before a noun, like in "a money-pit project".

What's the difference between a "money pit" and a "bad investment"?

A "money pit" implies ongoing and continuous expenses with little to no return, whereas a "bad investment" might simply result in a loss of the initial capital without necessarily requiring constant additional funding.