From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhard cashˌhard ˈcash noun [uncountable] MONEYpaper money and coins, not cheques or credit cards
Examples from the Corpus
hard cash• That is to say that only those needs backed up by hard cash are seriously taken in account.• Two Model Village awards will not suffice our merchants for cold, hard cash.• Luckily, the chatter of cold hard cash later persuaded the state to sell the name to the highest bidder.• Intellectuals were called on to transform their knowledge into hard cash.• Chamois and crystal hunters began to convert their mountain skills into hard cash by becoming mountain guides for the more adventurous tourists.• The social types turned out en masse to cheer on their friends and to put a little hard cash on the line.• John's role was to get together as much hard cash as possible.• For the City has not been prepared to back his business with hard cash. 