laugh all the way to the bank

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Verb

laugh all the way to the bank (third-person singular simple present laughs all the way to the bank, present participle laughing all the way to the bank, simple past and past participle laughed all the way to the bank)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To make a large income easily, especially at the expense of others or by doing something that lacks significant merit or effort.
   • 1994, Taki, Nothing to Declare: A Memoir, →ISBN, page 212:

     Ivan Boesky laughed all the way to the bank, as did Milken, as do most people who commit clever, non-violent crimes and fraudulently enrich themselves.

   • 2009 September 16, “Twitter's Popularity: Users Love Stupid Content”, in Newsweek‎, retrieved 13 April 2015:

     Who cares if he's not funny? The venture capitalists behind Twitter will be laughing all the way to the bank.

   • 2010, Hal Erickson, “The Wolf of Wall Street (1929)”, in New York Times: Movies‎, retrieved 13 April 2015:

     George Bancroft stars as ruthless stock manipulator Jim Bradford, who plays his customers for suckers and laughs all the way to the bank.

Usage notes

• Often used in the present participial form: laughing all the way to the bank.

Related terms

• cry all the way to the bank