pen·ny
Pronounced:
/ˈpɛni/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural US pen·nies /ˈpɛniz/ or British pence /ˈpɛns/ Meaning:
[count] 1 a plural pennies : a coin or a unit of money equal to 1⁄100 of a dollar : cent b plural pence : a coin or a unit of money equal to 1⁄100 of a British pound —abbr. p c plural pence : a British coin used before 1971 that was equal to 1⁄12 of a shilling —abbr. p
2 a : a small amount of money ▪ We got the car for just pennies. [=it didn't cost very much] ▪ When you're trying to save money, every penny helps/counts. [=even a small amount of money is important] ▪ Our vacation was expensive, but it was worth every penny. [=it was worth the entire amount that we paid for it] ▪ (chiefly Brit) He was trying to earn/turn an honest penny. [=earn money for honest hard work] b : the least amount of money ▪ I didn't have a penny (to my name). [=I did not have any money at all]
2 a : a small amount of money ▪ We got the car for just pennies. [=it didn't cost very much] ▪ When you're trying to save money, every penny helps/counts. [=even a small amount of money is important] ▪ Our vacation was expensive, but it was worth every penny. [=it was worth the entire amount that we paid for it] ▪ (chiefly Brit) He was trying to earn/turn an honest penny. [=earn money for honest hard work] b : the least amount of money ▪ I didn't have a penny (to my name). [=I did not have any money at all]
(a) penny for your thoughts
—used to ask what someone is thinking about ▪ “A penny for your thoughts?” “Oh, I'm just thinking about what I want to do over the weekend.”
a penny saved
◊The saying a penny saved (is a penny earned) means that it is important to save your money. ▪ Well, you know what they say about a penny saved.
a pretty penny
: a large amount of money ▪ That will cost a pretty penny. [=that will be very expensive]
in for a penny, in for a pound
Brit —used to say that you should finish what you have started to do even though it may be difficult or expensive ▪ “If you want to quit, I'll understand.” “No, I'm sure we can do this. In for a penny, in for a pound.”
not a penny less/more
: no less or no more than a certain amount of money ▪ I'll do the job for 100 dollars and not a penny less. [=I won't do the job unless I am paid at least 100 dollars] ▪ I'll pay you 100 dollars and not a penny more. [=I'll pay you 100 dollars, but I won't pay you any more than that]
pinch pennies —see 1pinch
ten a penny —see ten
the penny drops
Brit informal —used to say that someone finally understands something after not understanding it for a time ▪ I had to explain it to him three times, but finally the penny dropped. [=he understood the explanation]