show me the money


show me the money

Prove that you will keep your promises, financial or otherwise. This term dates from the second half of the 1900s and probably originated in poker or another gambling game. It has been widely used in professional sports, where athletes negotiate for more money before agreeing to sign with a team. But it has also been transferred to numerous other venues. A New York Times report indicated that President Barack Obama told BP, the company responsible for a massive oil spill, “Show me the money,” suggesting that BP should put billions in escrow to pay for claims (June 13, 2010). Similarly, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an article saying, “Last month UPS executives proudly detailed the profitable quarter that drove the company cash trove above $4 billion. Wall Street’s response: ‘Show me the money’” (Russell Grantham and Michael E. Kanell, August 16, 2010).See also: money, show