petty cash

Meaning

A small amount of physical cash kept in an office for minor, everyday expenses like milk, stamps, or small office supplies. It is managed by a designated employee and kept secure in a box.

Examples

• We bought some coffee for the meeting using money from the petty cash.

  We bought some coffee for the meeting using money from the petty cash.

• Who is in charge of the petty cash box today?

  Who is in charge of the petty cash box today?

• Please leave the receipt in the drawer whenever you take money from petty cash.

  Please leave the receipt in the drawer whenever you take money from petty cash.

• We need to top up the petty cash because we've run out of change.

  We need to top up the petty cash because we've run out of change.

• He used petty cash to buy some envelopes from the shop next door.

  He used petty cash to buy some envelopes from the shop next door.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I paid it with small money.

  ✓ I paid for it using petty cash.

  'Small money' is a literal translation from other languages. In English, physical office funds for minor expenses are called 'petty cash'.

• ✗ Let's buy the new laptop with the petty cash.

  ✓ Let's buy the new laptop with the company credit card.

  'Petty' means small or trivial. Petty cash is only for very small, inexpensive items, not major purchases.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I need five dollars from ___ to buy some stamps.

  💡 The small cash fund kept in the office.

  Show answer

  petty cash

• Always ask the receptionist before taking money from the ___.

  💡 The box with physical coins and bills for small things.

  Show answer

  petty cash