The 1980s was a decade filled with vibrant culture, and the slang that came out of it reflected that energy.
Especially when it came to talking about money.
Whether you were hustling on the streets or cruising through a neon-lit mall, there were plenty of fun and creative ways to refer to cash.
Some of these terms stuck around, while others faded into obscurity, but all of them captured the essence of the ’80s in their own unique way.
Here’s a look at 10 popular slang terms for money from that iconic decade.
1980s Slang For Money
Bank
“Bank” is a simple yet impactful slang term for money, commonly used in the 1980s to refer to large sums of cash.
People would often use this term to describe having a lot of money or a big payday, as in, “He’s sitting on a bank!”
It’s a fun, casual term that made its way into conversations about finances or spending during the decade.
For example, someone might say, “I need to make some bank this weekend!”
Examples in sentences:
- “She’s got a bank of cash ready for her new business!”
- “They made a bank off the concert tickets!”
- “I can’t believe how much bank they made on that deal!”
- “After the big sale, they were swimming in bank!”
- “Let’s hit the casino and try to make some bank!”
Bread
“Bread” was a popular slang term in the 1980s used to refer to money.
It was a laid-back way of talking about cash, and like many slang terms, it added a bit of flavor to everyday conversations about finances.
Whether you had a lot of “bread” or just a little, it was the go-to word for discussing money in the 1980s.
For example, someone might say, “I need to make some bread this weekend.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I’m saving up some bread for a new car.”
- “That job is paying me good bread this month.”
- “She has tons of bread after her big promotion.”
- “I don’t have enough bread to go out tonight.”
- “They were talking about how much bread they spent on their vacation.”
Bucks
“Bucks” is a popular and enduring slang term for money, particularly dollars, but it was also used more generally to refer to any sum of money in the 1980s.
If someone was talking about cash or a paycheck, they were often referring to “bucks.”
It was widely used in the 1980s across various contexts, from casual conversations to business discussions.
For example, you might hear someone say, “I need a few more bucks to cover the bill.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I can’t believe I spent all my bucks at the arcade!”
- “That new job is paying me some serious bucks!”
- “How many bucks do you think this car is worth?”
- “He’s been making bucks flipping houses!”
- “I spent all my bucks on that concert ticket, but it was totally worth it!”
Bullseye
“Bullseye” was used in the UK, especially during the 1980s, to refer to £50.
It’s derived from the dartboard, where the bullseye at the center is worth 50 points.
Over time, it became associated with a £50 note, making it a common term for money in some circles.
For example, someone might say, “It’ll cost you a bullseye to get that sorted!”
Examples in sentences:
- “That new phone costs a bullseye—better save up!”
- “I just paid the bill, and it came to a bullseye!”
- “You’ll need a bullseye for that night out in London.”
- “A bullseye for the ticket? That’s a bit much!”
- “She won the bet, and it’s a bullseye for her, £50 right there!”
Cheddar
“Cheddar” was a popular term for money in the 1980s, often used in casual conversations about cash or wealth.
It’s thought to be derived from the idea of cheddar cheese being a symbol of richness and quality, thus linking the word to having a good amount of money.
For example, someone might say, “I’m going to make some cheddar this weekend.”
Examples in sentences:
- “They’ve got so much cheddar, they don’t know what to do with it!”
- “I need to hustle and make some cheddar for my trip.”
- “That new job’s paying me a lot of cheddar!”
- “I’m low on cheddar, so I can’t go out this weekend.”
- “She’s got enough cheddar to live comfortably for years.”
Dough
“Dough” has been a popular slang term for money, especially in the 1980s.
It’s likely derived from the idea of dough being something you knead and work with, much like how you work for your money.
It’s commonly used in casual settings to refer to cash or earnings.
For example, someone might say, “I need to make some dough this weekend.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ve got to hustle and make some dough for the trip.”
- “He’s rolling in dough after that big bonus!”
- “I’m a little low on dough, can you spot me?”
- “She made a lot of dough from that business deal.”
- “We need dough if we’re going to take that vacation.”
Fiddy
“Fiddy” is a playful, abbreviated slang term for fifty dollars.
The term became popular in the 1980s and is often used in the context of small amounts of money, especially in more casual settings.
It’s a fun way to talk about cash without saying the full amount.
For example, someone might say, “I only need a fiddy to cover this bill.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ve got a fiddy, but I’m gonna need more to make it through the weekend.”
- “Can you spot me a fiddy until payday?”
- “She borrowed a fiddy from me last week.”
- “I won a fiddy in the poker game!”
- “I don’t have a fiddy on me right now, but I’ll get it to you later.”
Fiver
“Fiver” is a casual and friendly way to refer to a five-pound or five-dollar note.
The term has been widely used in the UK and the U.S., and it’s especially common in conversations about small amounts of money.
It’s one of those simple slang terms that makes talking about cash a little more fun!
For example, someone might say, “Can you lend me a fiver?”
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ll pay you back the fiver I owe you next week.”
- “I don’t have much on me, but I can spare a fiver.”
- “She gave me a fiver to get a coffee.”
- “The ticket only costs a fiver, it’s a bargain!”
- “He gave me a fiver for helping him with the project.”
Monkey
“Monkey” is a slang term for £500, widely used in the UK, especially during the 1980s.
It was part of the playful and colorful way people referred to money during that era.
The term “monkey” was often used in both casual and more serious exchanges to describe a substantial amount of cash.
For example, someone might say, “I need a monkey to pay off my rent,” meaning they require £500.
Examples in sentences:
- “Can you lend me a monkey until payday?”
- “The car repairs cost me a monkey—no small change!”
- “That designer jacket was a monkey, but it was worth it!”
- “I dropped a monkey on a new sound system last week.”
- “I’ve got to scrape together a monkey for the deposit.”
Moolah
“Moolah” is a playful slang term for money, widely used in the 1980s and beyond.
It’s one of those terms that brings a casual, light-hearted feel when referring to cash.
While its exact origin is unclear, “moolah” became a favorite way to talk about money, particularly in pop culture and among younger crowds.
For example, someone might say, “I need some moolah to buy this new outfit!”
Examples in sentences:
- “Do you have any moolah left after the weekend?”
- “That car’s worth a lot of moolah, no doubt!”
- “She’s making big moolah from her new business venture!”
- “I spent all my moolah on records last week!”
- “You better come up with the moolah by Friday!”
Pony
“Pony” is a slang term for £25, commonly used in the UK, especially during the 1980s.
It was part of the colorful language used by people, especially in working-class and street-level conversations.
The term became a quick and easy way to refer to a £25 note, and it was often heard in casual exchanges involving money.
For example, someone might say, “Can you lend me a pony?” meaning they’re asking for £25.
Examples in sentences:
- “I need a pony for the new pair of shoes!”
- “Could you lend me a pony to get home?”
- “That’ll be a pony for the ticket.”
- “I only have a fiver and a pony on me—need the rest in change.”
- “He was asking for a pony to cover the cost of his dinner.”
Quid
“Quid” is a straightforward and enduring slang term for the British pound (£), widely used in the UK. It was prevalent in the 1980s and remains in use today. The term is casual and easy to use, whether you’re discussing small amounts or large sums of money.
For example, you might hear someone say, “I’m short a few quid for the bus fare.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I only have a few quid left in my wallet, I need to get more!”
- “That meal only cost me twenty quid, what a bargain!”
- “How much did that coat set you back? Fifty quid?”
- “He’s been saving up a ton of quid to go on holiday!”
- “Can I borrow a quid to get a drink from the machine?”
Score
“Score” has long been used in the UK as a term for a £20 note. Popular in the 1980s, it was often heard in casual conversations, particularly when people were asking for or offering small amounts of cash. In the ’80s, it was part of the everyday vernacular of working-class Brits.
For example, someone might say, “Can you lend me a score?” meaning they’re asking for £20.
Examples in sentences:
- “I need a score to pay for this round!”
- “Can you spot me a score until payday?”
- “That’ll be a score for the taxi fare, please.”
- “I’ve got a score for the concert ticket.”
- “Do you have a score on you? I’m short £20.”
Stacks
“Stacks” was a popular 1980s slang term used to describe a large sum of money, often in the form of cash. The term evokes the image of physical stacks of bills, which was associated with having significant wealth. It was commonly used in street culture and by people involved in money-making ventures. If someone was “stacking” or had “stacks,” they were flaunting their wealth or success.
Examples in sentences:
- “He walked out of that deal with stacks of cash.”
- “They were flashing stacks at the club.”
- “She made stacks selling vintage clothes.”
- “I’m saving stacks for a new car.”
- “They spent stacks on the party.”
Tenner
“Tenner” is a colloquial term for a ten-pound note, commonly used in the UK. During the 1980s, it was widely used in everyday conversations to refer to a small amount of money, typically when talking about cash on hand or transactions.
For example, you’d hear, “I’ll pay you back the tenner I owe you tomorrow.”
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ve only got a tenner left in my wallet!”
- “Can you lend me a tenner? I’m a bit short on cash.”
- “That concert ticket cost me a tenner, and it was worth every penny!”
- “He paid me back the tenner he owed for the taxi fare.”
- “She handed me a tenner for the coffee, and I gave her the change.”
-
Founder -
@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.