walking-around money

[ waw-king-uh-round ]

noun

1. money that is carried on the person for routine expenses and minor emergencies; pocket money.
2. Also called street money. Political Slang. cash sums given by political managers, district leaders, or the like, to grass-roots workers and others for expenses incurred while canvassing for votes or doing other chores before an election.

Word History and Origins

Origin of walking-around money¹

1975–80, walking-around money fordef 2

Example Sentences

He has more walking-around money than you or I do, but he didn’t have walking-around money to buy Twitter for $44 billion.

From Slate

As the year kept going on, sales kept being bad, and Bed Bath’s walking-around money kept shrinking.

From Slate

For the first time the E.P.A. has “a little bit of walking-around money,” Mr. Regan joked to staff at a recent meeting.

From New York Times

The days of someone always carrying a little walking-around money seem long gone.

From Washington Post

If, that is, you and me happen to have a few hundred thousand dollars or more of walking-around money on hand.

From Seattle Times