Have money, time, etc. to play with
phrase
To have extra or surplus resources such as money or time available at your disposal.
Now that we have extra budget to play with, we can plan for a grand celebration

Often appears as...
- have budget to play with
- have time to play with
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To have extra or surplus resources such as money or time available at your disposal.
Now that we have extra budget to play with, we can plan for a grand celebration

Often appears as...
- have budget to play with
- have time to play with
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1

Informal Context
The phrase is informal, suitable for casual conversations but not for formal or official settings.

Since we have time to play with before the train leaves, let's grab a coffee.
Positive Connotation
The phrase often implies a positive opportunity to use extra resources creatively or freely.

Our project is ahead of schedule, so we've got some extra hours to play with for testing.
Not Always Literal
The phrase may not imply literal play, but rather the freedom to decide how to use something.

With the bonus I received, I now have extra money to play with for investments.
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