take it with (one) (when one goes)

To bring one's wealth and possessions with one to the afterlife. Typically used in negative constructions to indicate that such a thing is impossible. It doesn't matter how much money you make in your lifetime—you can't take it with you when you go. I've never understood why he was such a skinflint his whole life. It's not like he was going to take it with him, so why

take it with one

Fig. to take possessions with you when you die. (Usually negative.) Spend a little on yourself. You can't take it with you, you know. He knew he couldn't take it with him, so he spent it all.