milk cow

• Traire une vache pour obtenir du lait ; au sens figuré, exploiter ou tirer profit de quelque chose ou de quelqu'un de manière persistante ou excessive.

To exploit or take advantage of someone or something for personal gain, often in a persistent or greedy manner.

1. Literal meaningA1formal

   A cow kept for the production of milk.

   vache laitière

   • The farmer has several milk cows on his farm.
   • Milk cows need to be milked twice a day.
   • They bought a new milk cow to increase dairy production.

2. Source of easy profitB2informal

   A person, organization, or thing that is exploited as a reliable source of money or benefit.

   vache à lait

   • The company treated its loyal customers as a milk cow, constantly raising prices.
   • He saw the inheritance as a milk cow and spent it all quickly.
   • The government should not treat taxpayers like a milk cow.