money talks, bullshit walks
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Attempting to accomplish a goal by demonstrating possession of material resources will succeed, while attempting to accomplish the same goal through mere rhetoric will fail.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“You taught me a great expression a few years ago, Joey—don’t forget it yourself.”
“What expression?” I asked.
“Money talks—bullshit walks. Joey, the further away from the Chairman I get, the better I like it.”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “money talks, bullshit walks” mean?
Attempting to accomplish a goal by demonstrating possession of material resources will succeed, while attempting to accomplish the same goal through mere rhetoric will fail.
Is “money talks, bullshit walks” formal or informal?
money talks, bullshit walks is generally slang, vulgar.