fast buck

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fast buck

1. noun Money made quickly and/or without effort, often through dishonest, unscrupulous, or ethically dubious means. Often used in the phrase "make/earn a fast buck." The people hawking T-shirts commemorating the tragedy are just looking to make a fast buck.
2. adjective Concerned with making money quickly, easily, and (often) unscrupulously. Often used to modify the word "artist," thus implying the individual is a swindler to some degree. In this usage, it is usually hyphenated. All of these Wall Street investors are just a bunch of fast-buck artists, if you ask me. Before the economic crash, a huge amount of fast-buck speculators were selling over-inflated loans to people for property that was essentially worthless.
See also: buck, fast

fast buck

Money made quickly and easily and, often, dishonestly. For example, He's all right, but his partner is just out for a fast buck. This expression gave rise to fast-buck artist for an individual, especially a swindler, intent on making money quickly. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see easy money.
See also: buck, fast

fast buck

verb
See quick buck
See also: buck, fast
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