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Penny-wise for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: 'pɛni_waɪz

What does Penny-wise really mean?

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Oh, hey there! So, you wanna know what "penny-wise" means, huh? Well, I'm here to help you out. "Penny-wise" is an interesting phrase that we use to describe someone who pays a lot of attention to small amounts of money or someone who is really careful about how they spend their money. It's like when you have a little piggy bank and you save up all your coins, making sure not to waste a single penny.

Now, let's break it down even further. You see, the word "penny" refers to the smallest unit of money in some countries, like the United States. Well, it's called a cent, but we often use "penny" as a general term. And "wise" means being smart or showing good judgment. So, when we put them together, "penny-wise" means being smart or showing good judgment when it comes to handling small amounts of money.

Here's a little story to help you understand it better. Imagine you have a friend named Alex who always carefully counts every coin before spending it. They don't like wasting any money and try to make sure they get the best value for their coins. Well, we could say that Alex is penny-wise because they're being really smart about their money and not spending it carelessly.

But hold on! Sometimes, there's another meaning to "penny-wise." It can also describe someone who's very careful about saving money but may not be as careful about big expenses. You know, like when someone is so focused on saving every little penny but then ends up spending a lot of money on something unnecessary. It's kind of like the saying "penny-wise, pound foolish." Pound is the currency used in the United Kingdom, so it's like saying someone is smart about saving small amounts of money but not so smart when it comes to big amounts.

So, there you have it! "Penny-wise" means being smart or showing good judgment when it comes to handling small amounts of money, or it can also mean someone who's careful about saving small amounts but not so careful about big expenses. I hope that made sense to you! If you have any more questions or need more examples, feel free to ask.

Revised and Fact checked by John Doe on 2023-10-29 20:04:42

Penny-wise In a sentece

Learn how to use Penny-wise inside a sentece

  • Buying a small bag of chips instead of a bigger one to save money is being penny-wise.
  • Repairing a small hole in a shirt instead of buying a new one is a penny-wise decision.
  • Choosing to walk to school instead of taking a taxi or bus to save money is being penny-wise.
  • Turning off the lights when you leave a room to save electricity is a penny-wise habit.
  • Using coupons or shopping during sales to save money on groceries is being penny-wise.

Penny-wise Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.