color of someone's money

alternative colour of someone's money

1. Someone's ability or willingness to pay; money paid and not merely promised.

   "Then supposin' you show me the color o' your money?" he growled, "come, money fust; I aren't takin' no more risks." For answer I laid the coins before him.

   2022, Jeffery Farnol, The Broad Highway

   2 more examples

   Marry come up with such gentlemen! though he hath lived here this many years, I don't believe there is arrow a servant in the house ever saw the colour of his money.

   1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 153

   Sometimes the contractor would lot the work out to some sub-contractor, and he, after the men had worked for a month, would run away, and we should never see the colour of his money.

   1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, published 1861