spending money

alternative spending-money

1. uncountableA sum of cash kept in one's personal possession, for routine expenses or incidental purchases.

   "Percy has lots of spending money, but I doubt if he has twenty dollars at a time."

   1902, Edward Stratemeyer, chapter 6, in The Young Bridge-Tender

   3 more examples

   "Touching your brethren, Sir Prior," said Locksley, "they shall have present freedom, it were unjust to detain them; touching your horses and mules, they shall also be restored, with such spending-money as may enable you to reach York."

   1819, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 33, in Ivanhoe

   "My father will see that you are provided with suitable clothes," proceeded Brown; "and you shall have a little spending money also."

   1876, Horatio Alger, chapter 30, in Sam's Chance

   [T]he best way to head off a recession . . . is to put some spending money back in the people's pockets.

   2011 March 22, Frank Pellegrini, “The Selling of the Tax Cut: First Stop Greenspan”, in Time

   Synonyms: pin money, pocket money