see the color of (one's) money
(redirected from see the color of my money)see the color of (one's) money
To view the money that one will pay with in order to verify that they have it. Sure I trust you—but I still want to see the color of your money so I know you're good for it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
see the color of someone's money
Fig. to verify that someone has money or has enough money. So, you want to make a bet? Not until I see the color of your money. I want to see the color of your money before we go any further with this business deal.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
color of someone's money, see the
Prove that you can pay, as in Before we talk any more about this car, let's see the color of your money. This term probably originated in gambling or betting. [Slang; early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
the colour of someone's money
If you want to see the colour of someone's money, you want proof that they can pay for something, usually because you doubt that they are able to. Note: `Colour' is spelled `color' in American English. Then he ordered another drink and I said to him: `Let's see the colour of your money.' I thought he wouldn't have any. He made a mental note never to enter into conversation with a customer until he'd at least seen the colour of his money.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
see the colour of someone's money
receive some evidence of forthcoming payment from a person.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
see the ˌcolour of somebody’s ˈmoney
(British English) (American English see the ˌcolor of somebody’s ˈmoney) (informal) make sure that somebody has enough money to pay you, especially if you think they might not have it: I want to see the colour of his money before I start doing such a dangerous job for him.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017