halfpennyworth

/'heipniwə:θ/ Cách viết khác : (ha'p'orth) /'heipəθ/
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Thân thiện
halfpennyworth

A child buys a halfpennyworth of sweets from the shopkeeper.

Definition

Noun: - The amount of something that can be purchased for a halfpenny: This term refers to the quantity or measure of a good or service obtainable for the historical British coin of very small value, the halfpenny. It is primarily used to denote a very small amount or a trivial quantity.

Usage
  • The word is used to quantify a purchase or to figuratively describe a minuscule amount. It is largely historical and archaic, reflecting a time when the halfpenny coin was in circulation. In modern usage, it is rare and often appears in historical contexts, literature, or fixed expressions.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • She went to the market to buy a halfpennyworth of sweets.
    • His opinion isn't worth a halfpennyworth; he knows nothing about the subject. (Figurative use)
Advanced Usage
  • "Not a halfpennyworth": Used to emphasize the complete lack of value or significance of something.
    • There's not a halfpennyworth of difference between the two cheap brands.
  • "For a halfpennyworth of...": Used to indicate the reason for a trivial or minor action.
    • He wouldn't cross the street for a halfpennyworth of trouble. (Meaning he avoids even the smallest inconvenience).
Variants and Related Words
  • Ha'p'orth (noun): A common contraction and alternative spelling of "halfpennyworth," pronounced /ˈheɪpəθ/. This form is frequently seen in older British texts and dialects.
    • "Don't be such a miserable ha'p'orth!" (A colloquial, often affectionate, term for someone being stingy or grumpy over trivial things).
Synonyms
  • Mite: A very small amount or particle.
  • Trifle: Something of little value or importance.
  • Modicum: A small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable.
Related Phrases
  • Not worth a brass farthing: An idiom meaning completely worthless (a farthing was another small coin, worth a quarter of a penny).
    • His promise wasn't worth a brass farthing.
  • Pinch of salt: A very small amount, often used figuratively.
    • Take his advice with a pinch of salt.
Notes
  • The term is intrinsically linked to pre-decimal British currency (before 1971), where 240 pennies made one pound, and a halfpenny was a coin of low value. Its usage today is almost entirely figurative or historical.
halfpennyworth

A child buys a halfpennyworth of sweets from the shopkeeper.

Noun
  1. the amount that can be bought for a halfpenny

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