The Village Idiom

cast up one's accounts

When someone "casts up their accounts," they review and calculate their financial records or debts. This idiom is often used to describe someone settling their debts or taking stock of their finances.

Money & work · Filed under C

In a sentence

  • After weeks of disorganization, Mary finally sat down to *cast up her accounts* and realized she had been spending way too much money.
  • John spent hours *casting up his accounts* before meeting with his financial advisor to discuss his investment portfolio.
  • In order to properly manage their budget, the couple made it a habit to regularly *cast up their accounts* and track their expenses.

Where it comes from and how it is used

Cast up one's accounts is an idiom with roots in accounting. It refers to the act of calculating or reckoning one's financial situation. The idiom originated from the use of the word "cast" in accounting, where accountants would physically cast or throw numbers onto a sheet of paper or a ledger. The term "cast up" came to be associated with the process of adding up or calculating figures in accounting, leading to the evolution of the idiom "cast up one's accounts."

The idiom implies a thorough review or evaluation of one's financial records and statements. It is often used to determine profits, losses, or discrepancies in one's financial situation. However, the idiom can also be used in a broader sense beyond finance, encompassing the evaluation of any kind of records or information. For example, it can refer to reviewing and assessing the progress or outcomes of a project, undertaking, or personal goals.

In British English, the idiom is relatively common and familiar. It has been in use for several centuries and is encountered in various contexts, including literary works, historical texts, and formal situations. However, in American English, the usage of the idiom is considerably less frequent. Although it may be encountered in certain contexts such as literature or historical references, it is not commonly used in everyday conversations or writing.

When someone "casts up their accounts," they are engaging in a meticulous and comprehensive examination of their financial records or relevant information. This process involves carefully calculating or evaluating the figures or data to gain a clear understanding of their current financial situation or the outcome of a specific project or endeavor.

In addition to "casting up one's accounts," there are related idioms that convey similar meanings. One such idiom is "cash up," which refers to the process of counting and reconciling the cash or money in a business or personal setting. Just like "casting up one's accounts," "cash up" involves a careful calculation or evaluation of financial resources. It is often done at the end of a business day or when closing a financial period to ensure that the cash amounts match the recorded transactions.

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