Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

follow the money

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.02 in modern English

Syllables: fol-low the -money
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To analyze money flows in order to uncover corruption or other criminal activities.

Example Sentences

"No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just… follow the money."
"Then follow the money: We know that President Bashar Assad turned an ophthalmologist's blind eye to Saddam's use of the Syrian port of Tartus to import missile fuel components from China and night-vision goggles from Russia."
"His success in tackling and convicting members of Cosa Nostra was by following the money; this is the only way leading members of organised crime syndicates will ever be convicted."

Etymology

Popularized in the film All the President's Men (1976).

Inflected Forms

follows the money (present, singular) following the money (participle, present) followed the money (participle, past) followed the money (past)

Phrases

cui bono

Frequently Paired Words

cui bono

Questions

What does follow the money mean?: To analyze money flows in order to uncover corruption or other criminal activities.
Where does follow the money come from?: Popularized in the film All the President's Men (1976).

How to pronounce follow the money

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