bleeding cash

USAGE SUMMARY

"bleeding cash" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation in which someone is spending more money than they can afford, and the spending is depleting their funds. For example, "After buying a new car and taking a vacation, Steve was left bleeding cash to cover his other expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Exporters and importers are bleeding cash.

The Economist

A lot of young companies are now bleeding cash.

The New York Times

He has acknowledged that his Mets are bleeding cash.

The New York Times - Sports

He also said his team was "bleeding cash".

The New York Times - Sports

By 2010, a company that was bleeding cash when Sandberg arrived had become profitable.

The New Yorker

Its namesake dime stores were bleeding cash, as were many of its other divisions.

The New York Times

Its new management team took over an organization that was bureaucratic, overstaffed, and bleeding cash.

Harvard Business Review

When you are bleeding cash, it's hard to think of anything but tourniquets.

Harvard Business Review

Of course, when you are bleeding cash, it's hard to think about anything but tourniquets.

Harvard Business Review

Dozens of hospitals have closed in recent years, a few are in bankruptcy, and many more are bleeding cash daily.

The New York Times

One year later, the unit was bleeding cash and H.P. was cooling on its personal computing business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bleeding cash" to vividly illustrate situations of unsustainable spending.

Common error

While "bleeding cash" is acceptable, refrain from using it in highly formal financial reports or academic papers. Opt for more neutral terms like "experiencing net losses" or "demonstrating negative cash flow" for a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bleeding cash" functions as a vivid descriptor, typically used as a predicate or part of a predicate to illustrate a dire financial situation. It emphasizes the rapid and unsustainable loss of money. As Ludwig AI reports, this phrase is used to describe a situation in which someone is spending more money than they can afford, and the spending is depleting their funds.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bleeding cash" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that vividly describes a situation of rapid and unsustainable financial loss. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively illustrates scenarios where expenses exceed income, quickly depleting available funds. While suitable for various contexts, including news and business commentary, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or highly professional reports. When using the phrase, consider the intensity of the message you intend to convey and adjust accordingly to ensure clarity and appropriateness. The phrase is not appropriate for all contexts, but it is a valid phrase that can add emphasis to any related writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bleeding money

A direct synonym, replacing "cash" with the more general term "money".

haemorrhaging cash

A more intense synonym, implying a rapid and significant loss of money.

hemorrhage cash

A more abrupt term for money loss, suggesting a severe financial crisis.

draining cash

Implies a gradual depletion of funds, focusing on the continuous outflow.

shedding cash

Suggests a gradual, less alarming loss of money compared to "bleeding cash".

burning through capital

Common term to describe spending available cash reserves fast.

losing money rapidly

More descriptive alternative, detailing the fast rate of losing money.

experiencing heavy losses

Formal way to communicate the idea of financial losses.

operating at a loss

A general business term indicating that expenses exceed income.

incurring significant debt

Implies that the losses are leading to accumulating debt.

FAQs

How can I use "bleeding cash" in a sentence?

You can use "bleeding cash" to describe a situation where an entity is rapidly losing money. For example: "The company was "bleeding cash" due to high operating costs."

What are some alternatives to saying "bleeding cash"?

Alternatives include "haemorrhaging cash", "shedding cash", or "losing money rapidly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "bleeding cash" too informal for business writing?

While "bleeding cash" is widely understood, more formal phrases like "experiencing heavy losses" or "operating at a loss" might be more appropriate for professional reports.

What does it mean when a business is "bleeding cash"?

When a business is "bleeding cash", it means it is spending more money than it is earning, quickly depleting its available funds and resources. This situation is unsustainable in the long term.