hard-earned money/cash etc• After dark there is more atmosphere as the men come to spend their hard-earned money.• I believe Washington takes too much of your hard-earned money.• The business of selling shares at licensed dealers is often a gimmick which loses investors their hard-earned money.• Start telling your children what else that hard-earned money can buy.• I learned the lesson the hard way-by spending my hard-earned money for it.• The last thing you want to worry about when you invest your hard-earned cash is whether your adviser is trustworthy.• They are pictured as virtually irredeemable, lazy, dependent, living off the hard-earned money of others.• During the next three months Alexander spent all his hard-earned money visiting the theatre, artgalleries or going to concerts.