Throw money at something
verb phrase
To spend a lot of money on a problem, hoping to solve it quickly.
Instead of properly training their employees, they just throw money at the problem.
Often appears as...
- throw money at the problem
- throw money at a situation
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Implies spending is ineffective or lazy, without addressing the root cause.
They just throw money at the aging software instead of updating it.
Pro Tip 2/3Quick Fix Implication
Suggests a hasty solution that ignores long-term planning.
The city throws money at the pothole problem each year, but the roads keep deteriorating.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
In some contexts, can imply wastefulness or desperation.
The festival organizers threw money at the problem, but the event was still a failure.
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