How do you say “Make a killing” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is einen Riesengewinn machen, which literally means “to make a giant profit”. English speakers use make a killing to mean to make a very large profit. A direct German match for a very large profit. It avoids the English violent image. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
einen Riesengewinn machen
/aɪnən ˈʁiːzn̩ɡəvɪn ˈmaxn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “to make a giant profit”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Riesengewinn” makes the size of the gain clear. It suits a successful resale or a business that benefits from sudden demand.
It does not say whether the profit was fair or unfair. Add that judgement separately if it matters to the story.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
The umbrella stall made a killing when rain hit the outdoor concert.
German
Der Schirmstand machte einen Riesengewinn, als es bei dem Freiluftkonzert anfing zu regnen.
English
She bought the old chair cheaply and made a killing when she sold it.
German
Sie kaufte den alten Stuhl günstig und machte beim Weiterverkauf einen Riesengewinn.
Related expressions
- What “Make a killing” means in English
- Bring home the bacon, to earn the money needed to support a household
Last updated 2026-10-01