new money

English

Noun

new money (uncountable)

1. Persons or families that have recently become wealthy.

   Synonym: nouveau riche

   Hypernym: big money

   • 1959, Vance Packard, The Status Seekers, Pocket Books, published 1971, →ISBN, page 118:

     They found, for example, a significant difference in emphasis as you moved from the “old money” rich, or true elite, to the “new money” rich, or unseasoned elite. […] In contrast, the “new money” women are fascinated with high fashion, especially as it is dictated by Paris.

   • 2004, “How We Do”, in Jayceon Taylor, Mike Elizondo, Curtis J. Jackson, Andre R. Young (lyrics), Andre R. Young and Mike Elizondo (music), The Documentary, performed by The Game (featuring 50 Cent), G-Unit Records:

     They call me new money, say I have no class, I'm from the bottom, I came up too fast.

2. (British) The decimal monetary system used in the United Kingdom since 1971.
3. (humorous) The metric system of measurement, as opposed to the imperial system.

   This recipe says add eight ounces of flour; what's that in new money?

Antonyms

• old money