to make a killing
22
4.9
- idiom
- Informal
- Then there are sharks who buy everything, and they make a killing off those people.
- make a killing selling
- make a killing on stocks
- make a killing in real estate
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Watch on YouTubeIn fact, if they're saving lives, I hope they make a killing for Reason TV.
- In fact, if they're saving lives, I hope they make a killing for Reason TV.
- They were all bought, bought through a specific uniform tactical company that it's American Base, which I won't name, but they make a killing off that drug war.
Examples
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I've always thought someone could make a killing opening up a Dim Sum restaurant in downtown Portland!
Blog text (21) -
Someone has insider knowledge and is using it to make a killing.
Blog text (8) -
And like, I mean, some people make a killing on social media, but it's still a job.
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Yes, my family made its money in real estate, made a killing.
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I think most of the time farmers are trying to make a killing when city folks come to shop.
Blog text (32) -
If you played a short-term gold game recently, you made a killing.
Academic text (2010) -
I am gonna make a killing on those royalty checks.
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I've made a killing during the past two months with paranormal and New Age titles.
Fiction book (1997) -
That's why you'll always have some young entrepreneurs who will come along, who really understand how to do that, and make a killing.
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An investing legend is making a killing after putting 1% of his net worth in Bitcoin.
Synonyms
60
3.2
To earn a lot of money, often in a short time
33
4.6
To earn a large amount of money with little effort
12
6.2
To become rich very quickly, often by risky or dishonest methods
2
8.4
Get a lot of money or things by luck
1
4.8
To make a lot of money quickly or easily
1
4.3
To earn a lot of money quickly with little work
Antonyms
How Profitable
- Informal
22
4.9
60
3.2
25
3.2
36
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
Given the provided constituent senses — 'make' (to earn) and 'killing' (an unexpectedly large, quick profit) — the idiom's meaning is transparently compositional: to earn a large amount of money. The phrase follows a standard 'make + (noun indicating profit)' pattern, so a B1 learner who knows these constituent meanings will readily infer the MWE; only learners who know only the literal 'kill/murder' sense of 'killing' would be confused.
Etymology
Make a killing may come from old hunting scenes: if a hunter made many kills, he could sell the meat and furs and earn a lot of money. So today to make a killing means 'to earn a lot of money very quickly'.