Bleed money
Meaning
To lose money continuously and rapidly, often to an unsustainable degree.
Origin
The potent imagery of "bleeding money" directly evokes the biological concept of a body losing its vital fluid. Just as a physical wound can cause blood to flow out rapidly and uncontrollably, threatening life, this phrase applies that same dramatic urgency to finances. It paints a vivid picture of money draining away continuously and uncontrollably, signaling a severe and potentially fatal financial injury to a business or project, much like an entity slowly being drained of its very lifeblood.
Examples
- The new branch proved to be a disaster, causing the company to bleed money for months until they decided to shut it down.
- Without immediate cost-cutting measures, the struggling startup will continue to bleed money and face imminent bankruptcy.