spent

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a spent force

A person, group, or effort that is no longer as powerful, influential, or effective as it once was. There are those who think our great country is a spent force on the global stage, but this is of course utter nonsense. Despite the advances of the government, the rebel group is far from being a spent force in the region. The failed presidential candidate is a spent force in the party these days.

money well spent

An expense that is justified because it yields something very useful, profitable, or necessary. You're a writer, so as far as I see it, the cost of a new laptop is money well spent. Sure, therapy is expensive, but it will be money well spent if it helps you work through your grief.

spend (some amount of time) in (some place)

To be in some building, town, country, etc., for some amount of time. I spent a lot of my childhood in the library, learning about as many things as I could. We're only spending a couple of days in Rome, so we have to be very pragmatic about what we can see. I spent about four years in Tokyo teaching English before eventually moving back to Canada.

spend (something) for (something)

1. To spend some amount of money in order to purchase some product or service. I'd be willing to spend around $1,000 at most for a new refrigerator. If you spend the bare minimum for your computer, you can't expect it to give you top of the line performance.

2. To expend some amount of time doing something. A lot of people struggle to spend enough time for family when they are the primary earners in their households. I make a point of spending an hour each day for yoga and meditation. This new operating system is so large that you should expect to spend a couple hours for the installation.

spend (something) on (someone or something)

1. To spend some amount of money in order to pay for some product or service. I'd be willing to spend around $1,000 at most on a new refrigerator. If you spend the bare minimum on your computer, you can't expect it to give you top-of-the-line performance. It's insane to me that you have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on college education.

2. To spend some amount of money for the benefit of someone else. I feel like my girlfriends spends too much money on me, but she always brushes it aside whenever I bring it up. My parents could never spend much on us when we were growing up, so I'm always a little incredulous toward parents who buy their kids whatever they want.

3. To expend some amount of time doing or working on This new operating system is so large that you should expect to spend a couple hours on the installation. I make a point of spending an hour each day on yoga and meditation. The reports should just be summaries, so don't spend too much time on them.

spend a king's ransom (on something)

To spend an exorbitant sum of money on something. I've always wanted to vacation in Hawaii, but not if I have to spend a king's ransom on plane tickets. I heard they spent a king's ransom to have that derelict old mansion renovated.

spend a packet

To spend a very large amount of money, especially all at the same time. We spent a packet securing our partnership with the Chinese manufacturers. I hear Sarah is spending a packet to self-publish her novel.

spend like a sailor (on (shore) leave)

To spend excessively, extravagantly, or wastefully. Now don't go spending like a sailor on shore leave just because you got a bit of a tax refund from the government. The local council has been spending like sailors on this new tram project, while other existing public transport goes into disrepair. Every time my husband's paycheck comes through, he goes out to the pubs and spends like a sailor on leave!

spend money as if there's no tomorrow

To spend money very quickly and in great quantities. You can't just spend money as if there's no tomorrow, unless you want to broke soon.

See also: if, money, no, spend, tomorrow

spend money like a drunken sailor

To spend money freely and frivolously. He always starts spending money like a drunken sailor right after he gets paid, then struggles to cover his rent and bills toward the end of the month.

See also: drunken, like, money, sailor, spend

spend money like it's going out of style

To spend money very quickly and in great quantities. We had a table of people in the restaurant last night who were obviously very wealthy, because they spent money like it was going out of style. After getting his Christmas bonus, Jim started spending money like it was going out of style.

See also: going, like, money, of, out, spend, style

spend money like there's no tomorrow

To spend money very quickly and in great quantities. We had a table of people in the restaurant last night who were obviously very wealthy, because they spent money like there's no tomorrow. After getting his Christmas bonus, Jim started spending money like there's no tomorrow.

See also: like, money, no, spend, tomorrow

spend money like water

To spend money excessively or wastefully. For years he was an absolute penny-pincher. Now that he's got a steady job, he spends money like water.

spend the night

1. To sleep in another person's house as their guest. My son is spending the night at his friend's house tonight. It's getting late, so why don't you both spend the night in our spare room?

2. By extension, to spend the night in someone's bed, with the implication of having sex with them. Are you sure you're ready for him to spend the night? You've only been going out for a couple weeks. Even when I was in my mid-20s, my parents still didn't allow my girlfriend to spend the night with me.

spend the rest of (one's) days

To spend the remaining portion of one's life (doing something or being some place). Honestly, I'd love to retire by the water some place and spend the rest of my days fixing up old boats. My grandmother always said she would spend the rest of her days in South America if she could.

spend the rest of (one's) life

To spend the remaining portion of one's life (doing something or being some place). Honestly, I'd love to retire by the water some place and spend the rest of my life fixing up old boats. My grandmother always said she would spend the rest of her life in South America if she could.

spend money like it's going out of style

and spend money like there's no tomorrow

Fig. to spend money recklessly; to spend money as if it were worthless or will soon be worthless. Extravagant? she spends money like it's going out of style! I can't control it. I spend money like there is no tomorrow.

See also: going, like, money, of, out, spend, style

spend money like water

If someone spends money like water, they regularly spend a lot of money. So she liked a drink, loved her horses and spent money like water. So what?

a ˌspent ˈforce

a person or group that no longer has any power or influence: The new album is proof that this band is not a spent force just yet.