cash on the barrelhead

Etymology
On the American frontier, barrels were employed as desks or tables with which to conduct transactions.

Noun

 * 1)  Money in the form of paper currency or coins, paid immediately at the time and place of a transaction: cash only (no credit), and at the.
 * 2) * 1947 March 31, Foreign Relations: Potent Weapon, Time:
 * [I]n 1946 the U.S. exported $2,166 million worth of food. . . . Most of this ($1,354 million) was paid for, cash on the barrelhead. But $628 million was the U.S. contribution to UNRRA stocks, and $184 million went through Lend-Lease.
 * [I]n 1946 the U.S. exported $2,166 million worth of food. . . . Most of this ($1,354 million) was paid for, cash on the barrelhead. But $628 million was the U.S. contribution to UNRRA stocks, and $184 million went through Lend-Lease.

Translations

 * Russian: де́ньги на бо́чку
 * Spanish: a tocateja