Wedge

Wedge (noun / UK slang)

(Also heard as: A tidy wedge, Serious wedge, Fat wedge)

Definition: A hefty roll, thick stack, or substantial amount of money.

Pronunciation: /wɛdʒ/

Where It Comes From: Straight off 1970s and 80s British building sites and London market stalls.

Before contactless cards and phone banking existed, traders and grafters got paid in physical cash on Friday afternoons. If you folded a thick stack of banknotes in half and shoved them in your pocket with an elastic band, it literally formed the shape of a door wedge. The term caught on like wildfire through classic Cockney banter, trade-union banter, and 80s “loadsamoney” culture.

How People Actually Use It: You drop it when someone has pocketed serious cash or dropped an eye-watering amount on something.

It gets tossed around down the pub when talking about someone landing a big pay rise, winning a bet at the races, or selling an old motor for a massive profit. It always implies a noticeable, satisfying chunk of funds—you wouldn’t call a couple of quid a wedge; it has to be enough to make someone’s eyes widen a bit.

Examples in the Wild:

• “He came into a nice wedge after selling his business.”

  Translation: “He received a substantial payout after selling his company.”

• “I spent a wedge on that new TV.”

  Translation: “I spent a large sum of money on that new television.”

• “He’s earning proper wedge now that he’s working offshore.”

  Translation: “He is making very good money in his new job.”

Similar Slang: Dosh, Quid, Bundle, Wonga, Grand, Loot, Packet