What it means
You’re quids in when you’ve come out ahead, usually money-wise. Maybe you bought something cheap and sold it for more, got a refund, or landed a little bonus that leaves you better off than expected. It’s a very British way of saying you’re up, not out of pocket, often with a tiny smug grin attached.
Usage examples
"Grabbed a telly off Facebook Marketplace for twenty quid, cleaned it up, sold it for a ton. Proper chuffed, I’m quids in and the kebab’s on me"
"Sold the old bikes for more than I paid, so I am well quids in."
"If the meal is on the company, we are quids in tonight."
"Got the train refunded, still made the meeting on expenses, so I'm quids in before lunch even starts."
"Bought the jacket for fifteen quid at the car boot and flogged it online for sixty. Lovely stuff, absolutely quids in."
Where it comes from
It comes from quid, the long-standing British slang word for a pound, plus in in the sense of being ahead or in profit. So if you’re quids in, you’ve ended up on the right side of the deal, with money in your favour instead of money gone walkies.
Other ways to say it
This expression also appears in
