cash cow

Noun

cash cow (plural cash cows)

1. A product, service, or enterprise that generates ongoing, high net free cash flows.
   • The managers of a cash cow are primarily responsible for the generation of cash, and they should in principle be willing to give cash away to those other businesses in the portfolio which need it most.1980, D. J. Hall, M. A. Saias, “Strategy Follows Structure!”, in Strategic Management Journal, volume 1, number 2, page 181
2. (broadly) Someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of money.
   • Hollinger International, the owner of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, claimed in the 175-page filing that its former chief executive had treated the company as his "cash cow".2004 May 11, Dan Milmo, “Press tycoon Lord Black used company as ‘cash cow’, says $1.25bn lawsuit”, in The Guardian, retrieved 30 Oct 2008
   • Meanwhile, "Mr Spears is keen on protecting his cash cow, um, wife. Brit's bodyguards have been teaching Kev how to shoot a handgun," the New York Post says.2004 October 5, “Britney's new digs”, in The Age (Australia), retrieved 30 Oct 2008

   Synonyms:

   moneymaker, money-spinner, golden goose, milch cow