penny (redirected from counting the pennies)

bad penny

a worthless person. Wally is a bad penny. Someday he'll end up in jail. My little brother is a real bad penny. Every time he shows up, he wants to borrow money.

See also: bad

bad penny always turns up

Prov. A worthless person always comes back to the place he or she started out. Jill: I just found out that Tom left town after we fought last Saturday. What if I never see him again? Jane: Don't worry. A bad penny always turns up.

See also: always, bad, turn, up

cost a pretty penny and cost an arm and a leg; cost the earth

Fig. to be expensive; to cost a lot of money. Mary's dress is real silk. It must have cost a pretty penny. Taking care of a fancy car like that can cost a pretty penny, let me tell you. It cost an arm and a leg, so I didn't buy it. A house that size with an ocean view must cost the earth!

See also: cost, pretty

cut someone off without a penny

Fig. to end someone's allowance; to fail to leave someone money in one's will. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin cut their son off without a penny after he quit school. They cut off both of their sons without a penny. We learned, when Uncle Sam's will was read, that he cut off his own flesh and blood without a penny.

See also: cut, without

I felt like a penny waiting for change.

Rur. I felt worthless or helpless. When I lost the race, I felt like a penny waiting for change. My best girl went off with someone else. I felt like a penny waiting for change.

See also: change, felt, like, waiting

penny for your thoughts

Prov. What are you thinking about?; I would give you a penny if you tell me your thoughts. Noticing that Janet looked pensive, Bill said, "A penny for your thoughts!" You seem very pleased with yourself today. A penny for your thoughts!

See also: thought

penny saved is a penny earned

Prov. Money that you save is more valuable than money that you spend right away.; It is good to save money. Now that you have your first job, you ought to open a savings account. A penny saved is a penny earned. Mary worked hard to save money; she knew that a penny saved is a penny earned.

See also: earn, save

penny-wise and pound-foolish

Prov. thrifty with small sums and foolish with large sums. (Describes someone who will go to a lot of trouble to save a little money, but overlooks large expenses to save a little money. Even in the United States, the reference is to British pounds sterling.) Sam: If we drive to six different grocery stores, we'll get the best bargains on everything we buy. Alan: But with gasoline so expensive, that's penny-wise and pound-foolish.

See also: and

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not have two pennies to rub together  (British, American & Australian) also not have two nickels to rub together (American)

to be very poor She's been out of work for months and doesn't have two pennies to rub together.

See also: have, rub, together, two

A penny for your thoughts.  also A penny for them.

something that you say in order to ask someone who is being very quiet what they are thinking about 'A penny for your thoughts.' 'Oh, I was just thinking about how to tell him I'm leaving.'

See also: thought

A penny saved is a penny earned.

something that you say which means it is wise to save money I'd advise anyone to put aside a proportion of their earnings - a penny saved is a penny earned.

See also: earn, save

be penny-wise and pound-foolish  (old-fashioned)

to be extremely careful about small amounts of money and not careful enough about larger amounts of money Saving a little bit of money on repairs can lead to long-term damage. You don't want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish, now do you?

See also: and

be ten/two a penny  (British & Australian)

to be very common TV cookery shows seem to be ten a penny these days.

See also: ten

cost (somebody) a pretty penny

to be very expensive That diamond ring must have cost him a pretty penny.

See also: cost, pretty

In for a penny, (in for a pound).  (British & Australian)

something that you say when you have decided to become very involved in an activity, and to put a lot of money or effort into it I've put all my savings into this new venture. In for a penny, in for a pound.

penny ante  (American)

of little value or importance He was proposing some penny ante increase in child-care that amounted to an extra ten dollars a week. We were burgled but they didn't take much - just penny ante stuff in the front office.

See also: ante

spend a penny  (British & Australian informal)

if you say you are going to spend a penny, you mean you are going to go to the toilet Excuse me, I must go and spend a penny.

See also: spend

the penny drops  (British & Australian)

if you say the penny drops, you mean that you have finally understood something It was only when I saw Ron's car outside Penny's house that the penny finally dropped and I realised they were having an affair.

See spend a penny

See also: drop

turn up like a bad penny  (old-fashioned)

to arrive at a place or event where you are not wanted She'll turn up again, like a bad penny, just you see.

See also: bad, like, turn, up

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a penny for your thoughts

I would like to know what you are thinking about For several minutes they sat silently, then finally she looked at him and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Walter.”

See also: thought

penny wise and pound foolish

unwise because doing something small now would prevent much more trouble later Education budget cuts are penny wise and pound foolish – public education is an investment in our future.

See also: and, foolish, pound, wise