fast buck

American  

noun

Slang.

1. money made easily or quickly and sometimes unscrupulously.

   He speculated briefly in the commodities market in the hope of making a fast buck.

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fast buck Idioms  

1. Money made quickly and easily and, often, dishonestly. For example, He's all right, but his partner is just out for a fast buck. This expression gave rise to fast-buck artist for an individual, especially a swindler, intent on making money quickly. [Slang; mid-1900s] Also see easy money.

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Other Word Forms

• fast-buck adjective

Etymology

Origin of fast buck

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

Hakim -- not his real name -- travelled south from the Paris region at the end of 2020 when he was 15 thinking to make a fast buck, but things quickly went wrong.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

It’s a scam that some in the country turn to during tough economic times, observers say, creating an influx of fake lawyers who feign legal expertise in order to make a fast buck.

From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2023

That responsibility requires doing what’s right long-term, not just what might make a fast buck.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2022

Residents like Sanchez lost everything, and angry locals have accused developers of having colluded with public officials to make a fast buck by putting up dream getaways without proper planning.

From Reuters • Oct. 17, 2013

This will be a fast buck, I thought.

From "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key" by Jack Gantos