easy money; ill-gotten gains
Refers to money obtained with little effort, often through luck or dishonest means. Carries a slightly negative or dismissive nuance.
The money I won gambling was easy money, so I spent it right away.
They say easy money doesn't stick with you.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Alternate kanji spelling using 泡 for 'bubble'.
Katakana spelling of the first part, sometimes seen in casual writing.
From あぶく (bubble, foam) and 銭 (money), implying money that appears and disappears like bubbles. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.