dead president

English

Etymology

The presidents whose faces decorate US currency are deceased.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

dead president (plural dead presidents)

1. (US, slang) A piece of US paper currency.
   • 1987, Eric B. & Rakim (lyrics and music), “Paid In Full”, in Paid In Full:

     So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent
     So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint
     So I start my mission, leave my residence
     Thinkin' how could I get some dead presidents

   • 1994, Nas (lyrics and music), “The World Is Yours”, in Illmatic:

     I'm out for presidents to represent me (Say what?)
     I'm out for presidents to represent me (Say what?)
     I'm out for dead presidents to represent me

   • 2000, Richard Grayson, The Silicon Valley Diet and Other Stories, Red Hen Press, →ISBN, page 149:

     Finding a new job just meant driving to another office-park campus with dopey street names (Disc Drive, Resistor Road, Infinite Loop) to endure more geeksploitation in exchange for dead presidents, stock options, a flexible schedule, no dress code, and all the junk food I could eat.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dead,‎ president.

See also

• Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, Benjamin, Franklin