What does "Your money's no good here" mean?

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:57 am

There is no doubt in my mind, but my friend has a silly notion about the meaning of this phrase. So I will let the OO'ers decide...

You go into a bar and order a beer. You attempt to hand the bartender a bill, but he refuses saying, "Your money's no good here." This means the drink is on the house so he won't accept your payment.

My friend contends it means the bartender won't accept your payment because you are not welcome there, and he is telling you to leave. When I scoffed at this, he insisted the comment could at least be interpreted both ways. I don't think so.

Whay say ye?

Kiam · Post by **Kiam** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:04 am

I say you are right and your friend isn't best friends with any bartenders.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:05 am

If the beer's been served, then it's obvious that it's on the house.

If it's not been served...watch out for a baseball bat.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:24 am

Around here it means get out now you're not welcomed.

theohall · Post by **theohall** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:26 am

Jaymann wrote:You go into a bar and order a beer. You attempt to hand the bartender a bill, but he refuses saying, "Your money's no good here." This means the drink is on the house so he won't accept your payment.

If you're in the US and you hand the bartender non-US currency, it's obviously no good there

Seriously - it'd mean the beer is on the house in all of my experience.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:49 am

Jaymann wrote:My friend contends it means the bartender won't accept your payment because you are not welcome there, and he is telling you to leave.

That's not how I read the specific case you spelled out.

When I scoffed at this, he insisted the comment could at least be interpreted both ways. I don't think so.

I agree with your friend here. It can mean either "We don't want your money because we like you," or "We don't want you or your money."

~Neal

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:12 am

While I suppose it could mean both, I've never heard it used any other way than you described.

The one time I wasn't welcome in a bar, we were quickly ushered out by the bouncers. The bartender didn't discuss it with us. We were just escorted out the door.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:15 am

I voted that it could be either before reading the situation you were talking about. If they already served you, as has been pointed out, they are telling you you don't have to pay. If they haven't served you they are telling you they aren't going to be.

Grundbegriff · Post by **Grundbegriff** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:57 am

Remus West wrote:If they already served you, as has been pointed out, they are telling you you don't have to pay. If they haven't served you they are telling you they aren't going to be.

That's right.

Even if a bartender says this in order to offer the drink for free, the phrase has the status of an allusion or quotation; it refers to the other meaning comically. (It's like saying "we don't serve your kind here" in the outer chamber not really to kick the guest out, but rather to invite the guest into the even more exclusive inner chamber.)

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:18 am

I've only heard it used in reference to you don't need to pay. Technically, it could be used either way but I've never once heard it used in the get out sense.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:22 am

I've never heard it used in reality at all. I have heard is used both way on the screen. Often when used the second way, it was for straight forward pedjudice against class, creed, race, etc...

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:31 am

It means they're on to my counterfeiting scheme.

Seriously though, that phrase is kind of antiquated. "I got that one" or "Don't worry about it" means the beer is free.

"Your money's no good here" means you've traveled back in time to the 50's. Your response should be "Hey, that's swell!"

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:55 am

Very much contextual. Traditionally, it means that they aren't willing to accept money from you because they like/respect/owe you, and are basically saying that you don't need money to drink in their bar.

I have heard it used the other way around, though.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:38 am

Not true. A bartender would have charged you $5 for a beer, AND told you to use the restroom four blocks down the street, if you're not welcome. He wouldn't tell you to just go away.

ChrisGrenard · Post by **ChrisGrenard** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:45 am

Here at the Double O Bar, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Debris · Post by **Debris** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:29 pm

I've never heard a bartender use it in any other context other than the drinks are on the house.

Really, I don't think any bartender would use such cryptic language if he wanted you to leave. "Get the fuck out of my bar!" is a little more concise and leaves no room for interpretation.

Discalced · Post by **Discalced** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:30 pm

Your poll's no good here.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:41 pm

Never heard it to mean anything besides free.

GiaKitten · Post by **GiaKitten** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:32 pm

Im going with this phrase definitely as a positive. It's said with the utmost care/respect meaning We cant take ur money, ur good, you scratched our back so we're scratching urs

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:44 pm

Necrobot!

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:17 pm

At least I finally got to vote on this pressing issue.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:22 pm

Monopoly money is not legal tender.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 5:10 pm

I stand by what I said 20 (!!) years ago. And the phrase is even more antiquated today.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:38 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 5:10 pm I stand by what I said 20 (!!) years ago. And the phrase is even more antiquated today.

Apparently the bots are just now catching up.

Kurth · Post by **Kurth** » Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:52 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:12 am While I suppose it could mean both, I've never heard it used any other way than you described.

The one time I wasn't welcome in a bar, we were quickly ushered out by the bouncers. The bartender didn't discuss it with us. We were just escorted out the door.

Am I the only one intrigued at the notion that 20 years ago, Smoove_B was getting thrown out of bars by bouncers?

Also, definitely means “your money is no good here.” Definitely.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 12:28 am

It can mean both. TBH my first reaction was the same as your friend, to think of it as only negative. Like "you are such a jerk that you have rendered your money worthless within this establishment."

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 12:50 am

What is the connotation of "We don't serve their kind here! Your droids. They'll have to wait outside..."?

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 1:50 am

In my retail career I had to break this news to countless loony Canadians.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:57 am

Kraken wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 1:50 am In my retail career I had to break this news to countless loony Canadians.

LOL!

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:26 pm

The phrase is featured in an iconic scene from The Shining:

The meaning is clear. What cracks me up is when Jack says:
"I'm the kind of man who wants to know who's buying his drinks."

Then it's implied: "Oh, Satan? Well alright then."

Punisher · Post by **Punisher** » Thu Mar 13, 2025 1:58 pm

Jeff V wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:22 pm Monopoly money is not legal tender.

Tell that to Canada..

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Mar 14, 2025 9:53 pm

Punisher wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 1:58 pm
Jeff V wrote: Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:22 pm Monopoly money is not legal tender.
Tell that to Canada..

Well, if the question was "Your money's no good here, eh?" then certainly a different answer is order. Also applies to "Votre argent ne sert à rien ici".

In the first case, the answer would be "we only accept beaver tails." In the second, it means "you dropped it in the bidet."

Octopus Overlords

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