almighty dollar
The dollar, satirically characterized as a god.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Some people worship the almighty dollar above all else.”
“Everything in this city seems to revolve around the almighty dollar.”
“You cannot ignore the power of the almighty dollar in modern sports.”
“The film criticised a society that bows down to the almighty dollar instead of helping the poor.”
“The developer decided to cut down the ancient forest because he only cares about the almighty dollar.”
“Many artists feel they must choose between their creative passion and chasing the almighty dollar to pay the rent.”
“The hospital board was accused of putting the almighty dollar ahead of the health and safety of its patients.”
“In his bitter farewell speech, the retiring senator warned that democracy itself was being sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dollar.”
first recorded 17th c.
Most sources hold this to be a coinage of Washington Irving, alluding to "Almighty God", although a Philadelphia newspaper also used the phrase at approximately the same time and Ben Jonson had used "almighty gold" in 1616 in Epistle to Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland.
- 01
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 02
bet one's bottom dollar
To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything.
- 03
bottom dollar
The last of one's money; all of one's money.
- 04
top dollar
The maximum amount of money that an item, service, or worker is worth; a very high price.
Last updated August 10, 2026