# cash in

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cash-in
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. exchange for money

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to exchange something like a cheque, a ticket, or an investment for its value in actual money.

For teachers: to convert a non-cash asset, such as a bond, insurance policy, or casino chips, into liquid currency.

- He decided to cash in his savings bonds to pay for the new car.
- After a successful night at the poker table, she went to the cage to cash in her chips before leaving the casino.

Usage: Often takes a direct object (transitive), but can be used without one in gambling contexts.

### 2. to profit from a situation

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to use a lucky situation or a popular trend to make money or get an advantage.

For teachers: to exploit or capitalize on a current situation, trend, or reputation for personal or financial gain.

- The company is trying to cash in on the current craze for vintage clothing.
- Several former athletes attempted to cash in on their Olympic fame by signing lucrative endorsement deals with sports brands.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'on'.

### 3. to die

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

a very informal way to say that someone has died.

For teachers: a slang euphemism for death, derived from the gambling metaphor of settling one's final account.

- The old outlaw finally cashed in his chips at the age of ninety.
- In the gritty noir novel, the protagonist narrowly avoids cashing in during a shootout in the rain-slicked alleyway.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly informal and can be seen as disrespectful; it is best avoided in serious or sympathetic contexts.

## Examples

- He decided to cash in his stocks while the price was high.
- Many local businesses are trying to cash in on the sudden influx of tourists during the summer festival.
- The former minister was accused of attempting to cash in on his political connections by accepting a lucrative consultancy role immediately after leaving office.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: distinguish between the literal financial sense (cashing in a bond) and the more cynical figurative sense (cashing in on someone's fame).

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