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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cash on the barrelhead en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

On the American frontier, barrels were employed as desks or tables with which to conduct transactions.

Meanings

  1. (US, idiomatic, uncountable) Money in the form of paper currency or coins, paid immediately at the time and place of a transaction: cash only (no credit), and at the point of sale.
    • [I]n 1946 the U.S. exported $2,166 million worth of food. . . . Most of this ($1,354 million) was paid for, cash on the barrelhead. But $628 million was the U.S. contribution to UNRRA stocks, and $184 million went through Lend-Lease. 1947 March 31, Foreign Relations: Potent Weapon, Time
    • "[W]e're selling, to the highest bidder, and for cash on the barrel head. . . . Cash in hand, no checks accepted." 1938 September 1, Charles B. Parmer, “Serial Story: Photo Finish—Twelve”, in Telegraph-Herald, Iowa, US, retrieved 23 Jul 2013, page 11:
    • In return for support of an Iraq invasion, Turkey wanted—and got—immediate aid, cash on the barrelhead, rather than mere assurances about future help. 2003 February 25, Paul Krugman, “Threats, Promises and Lies”, in New York Times, retrieved 22 Jul 2013:

Relateds

on the drum · cash is king · on the nail · cash and carry · make it interesting · cash on the line

Synonyms

hard cash · cold cash · cold hard cash

Translations (3)

ru де́ньги на бо́чку (Translations) · pl natychmiastowa płatność gotówką na miejscu transakcji (Translations) · es a tocateja (colloquial; usu. preceded by pagar) (Translations)