quick buck

quick buck (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, informal) A large sum of money earned easily and quickly.
   • 1972 May, B. J. Mason, “Black Cinema Expo ’72”, in Ebony, volume 27, number 7, page 160:

     Stan Myles adds that the Griffiths are still among us, too—still grinding out their fears and fantasies in the guise of “relevant” flicks, most of which turn out to be variations on the same old theme […] writers still churn out quick-buck distortions of the truth; but issues are avoided like the plague; white filmster—in a frenzy of self-abasement, perhaps—have succeeded only in being more subtle instead of less racist; and even some black filmsters—in a rush for questionable glory—have created one-dimensional portraits of their people.

   • 2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute.

• easy money
• fast buck