Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.

When I asked for an expensive dress for my friend’s wedding, my mother reminded me that money does not grow on trees.

Money is hard earned and limited

The most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence is (4) Money is hard earned and limited.

The idiom "money doesn't grow on trees" means that money is not easily obtained. It takes hard work and effort to earn money, and it should not be wasted on unnecessary things.

In the given sentence, the mother is reminding her child that money is not something that is easily available, and that she should think carefully before spending it on an expensive dress.

The other options do not fit the meaning of the idiom.

• Money is freely available to spend means that money is easy to come by and that there is no need to be careful with it.
• Money is like leaves of a tree and freely available means that money is abundant and that there is no need to worry about running out of it.
• Money grows on shrubs and there’s plenty means that money is easy to find and that there is no need to be frugal with it.