tons of cash

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tons of cash" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used informally to describe a large amount of money, often in a context related to wealth or financial success. Example: "After selling his startup, he walked away with tons of cash, allowing him to travel the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Corporations are sitting on tons of cash.

The New York Times

"We've actually been getting tons of cash lately".

The New York Times

E-commerce ventures also require tons of cash to build warehouses and buy inventory.

The Economist

Fixed-income investors may want to focus on high-quality companies that routinely generate tons of cash.

The New York Times

Barisan starts all elections with incumbent advantages, including a slavish state media, tons of cash and constituency boundaries drawn in its favour.

The Economist

"But there's still skepticism about the market and tons of cash on the sidelines, which encourages me that the market can continue to pull higher".

The New York Times

The "super PAC" supporting Blue Dog candidates has a problem that on the surface would seem enviable: tons of cash on hand!

The New York Times

He also has a track record and tons of cash, but is he foolish to take on Uber? "I'm going to quote your SAS," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

Uncle Tommy and Uncle Arthur had tons of cash, a gang of henchmen and (relatively) fast cars, and they spent all day faffing about with their new toy, a racehorse.

Independent

"When you're co-branding with a hotel company that already has the space, you're not forking over tons of cash to be there," said Brett Blumenthal, founder and editor of thehealthyroadwarrior.com, a Web site for health-conscious business travelers.

The New York Times

But shares of large, industry-leading companies with strong balance sheets — for example, Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft, which have low debt and sit on tons of cash — have been catching up since early May.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tons of cash" when you want to emphasize the sheer volume of money, suggesting abundance and perhaps even excess. This phrase is suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "tons of cash" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "substantial funds" or "significant capital" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tons of cash" functions as a noun phrase, where "tons" acts as a quantifier modifying "cash". It is used to describe a large quantity of money. As Ludwig AI examples show, it often appears in contexts relating to business, finance, and personal wealth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tons of cash" is a common and informal way to describe a large amount of money. It functions as a noun phrase and is often used to emphasize abundance, as seen in Ludwig's examples. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's best suited for informal contexts and should be avoided in formal or academic writing in favor of more neutral alternatives. The phrase is most prevalent in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Wiki sources. As Ludwig AI indicates, while correct, you should be mindful of your register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A large sum of money

A more descriptive and straightforward alternative.

A fortune

A simpler, widely understood synonym.

A pile of cash

Similar in tone, but slightly less formal.

A great deal of money

Focuses on the amount, using a more formal tone.

A mountain of money

Uses a different metaphor to describe abundance.

A wealth of riches

Emphasizes the abundance and affluence.

Substantial funds

Focuses on the availability of money.

A significant amount of capital

Emphasizes the financial implications and scale.

Extensive capital

Highlights the financial resources available.

Copious amounts of money

Highlights the plentiful nature of the funds.

FAQs

What does "tons of cash" mean?

The phrase "tons of cash" is an informal way to describe a large amount of money. It suggests having a significant wealth or financial resources.

What can I say instead of "tons of cash"?

You can use alternatives like "a large sum of money", "a fortune", or "substantial funds" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "tons of cash" in formal writing?

While "tons of cash" is widely understood, it's generally better to use more formal alternatives like "significant capital" or "substantial funds" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

How does the meaning of "tons of cash" compare to "a lot of money"?

"Tons of cash" implies a larger, more impressive amount of money than simply "a lot of money". It suggests a considerable level of wealth.