hard line money—(Nautical) extra pay in consideration of special hardships (also: hard-lying money):
- Besides, there is hardline money, which makes up for a good many discomforts.
hard money—
1. (also: hard cash) money in its proper form, as distinguished from checks, etc.:
- Husbandmen, like other laborers, are paid in hard money by the week.
2. a currency with a high exchange value, not easily subject to depreciation:
- International speculators trashed the ruble, Russia’s national currency, and looted the country’s hard-money reserves.
3. (also: tight money) money available to borrowers at high interest rates and short payback:
- Due to the immense amount of loans, the bank had a significant lack of “hard money” available to its users.
4. (U.S.) political donations to party organizations subject to legal restrictions:
- Parties and candidates may use hard money donations for all political purposes.
Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase hard currency— = hard money 2:
- The trade imbalance and the drain of gold and hard currency reserves have lessened.
See also: soft currency / soft money.