C2idiommoneyIELTS-friendly
rob Peter to pay Paul
USUK
to solve one money problem by creating another, for example by taking from one debt to pay another
Often 'is just robbing Peter to pay Paul'. The two names are fixed: do not change them. British and American.
In context
Taking a new loan to repay the old one is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The council cut the library budget to fund road repairs, which is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
More idioms about money
- a cash cowa product or business that steadily makes a lot of money
- a false economya way of saving money that ends up costing more later
- a gold minea business or thing that makes a lot of money, or a rich source of something
- a golden handshakea large sum of money paid to someone when they leave a job
- a money pitsomething, often a house or car, that costs you much more money than it is worth