ENGLISH
REFERENCE

filthy lucre

idiom
Meaning

Money, especially if obtained dishonestly.


Origin

disputed origin

From filthy + lucre, which appears in the Tyndale Bible, and four times in the King James Version of the Bible, as a calque of Ancient Greek αἰσχρόν κέρδος (aiskhrón kérdos) and related terms such as αἰσχροκερδής (aiskhrokerdḗs, “[a person] given to filthy lucre”): see the quotations and Citations:filthy lucre.

Examples
SIMPLE

He cares only about filthy lucre.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician was accused of accepting bribes, clearly prioritizing filthy lucre over his public duties.

COMPLEX

The novel explores how the protagonist sacrificed his integrity and reputation in a desperate, lifelong pursuit of filthy lucre.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    filthy rich

    Very rich (wealthy).

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