Rake in means earn a lot of money: the film raked in far more than its producers expected. A rake is the garden tool you pull leaves into a pile with, and here it's money being pulled in. The informal set phrase is be raking it in: her design business is really raking it in. The it doesn't refer to anything.
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rake in money / profits; rake it in
- The summer festival raked in money from ticket sales.
- Her small design business is really raking it in.
- The film raked in far more than its producers expected.
What changed
First versionThe shop is raking in it during the holiday season.
RevisionThe shop is raking it in during the holiday season.
Most verbs take the object right after them, so raking in it looks logical. But in this fixed phrase, it goes between the parts: raking it in. With a noun, people usually say rake in: rake in profits.
Earn is neutral: she earns a good salary. Rake in means make a lot of money, informal and vivid: the café raked in money during the festival. Make a living means earn enough to live on, with no hint of being rich.
Your turn
Choose the fixed informal expression meaning earn a lot: Since opening the new branch, they are ___.
Show the answer
raking it in — The fixed phrase is raking it in, with it between rake and in. Raking in it sounds wrong.
Describe a café, shop or project that raked in a lot of money during a good season.
The seaside café raked in money from takeaway lunches during the sailing event.
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