cry all the way to the bank—(ironic) make a lot of money, especially undeservedly:
- When the reviews are bad I tell my staff that they can join me as I cry all the way to the bank.
laugh all the way to the bank — = cry all the way to the bank:
- Naturally, they bought property around them; and laughed all the way to the bank.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be laughing—(UK coll.) be in a fortunate position; be able to successfully control a situation:
- If the gas bill is as low as the electricity bill, we’re laughing.