T-learning # Idiom
Speak Like a Native

money doesn’t grow on trees

Choose the correct definition a, b or c.

a) money can’t buy you love

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

b) money doesn’t come easy

Well done ! That’s the right answer.

If someone tells you that ’money doesn’t grow on trees’ it means that you need to work if you want to earn your living with true money. Why money and trees ? Because typically trees are abundant, and the things that grow on them are easy to get.

French translation

l’argent ne tombe pas du ciel ; l’argent ne tombe pas comme la pluie

How NOT to translate * l’argent ne pousse pas sur les arbres

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Examples in context

Money doesn’t grow on trees’ if we listen to David Cameron. According to the Prime Minister, “there is no money tree to deal with our ever-depressing economic problems in the next budget. So get it out of your mind that there should be tax cuts : you know, those things that may actually help with getting our moribund country moving again”.’

The commentator, 7 March 2013

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‘Trees add value to your home, save energy and they help save the planet, but don’t start digging holes until you confirm you have the right tree for the right location.
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but the value they add to your property can be just as lucrative.’

Really Times, 2 Apr. 2013

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Everyday usage

I think that if money could grow on trees, people would react much more quickly to deforestation.

Some regular players consider that money grows on big trees, while they don’t see it’s not always the case.

c) money cannot buy happiness

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.


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