penny

/'peni/

Thân thiện

A child picks up a shiny penny from the sidewalk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A coin of low value: A penny is a small coin. In the UK and Ireland, it is worth one hundredth of a pound. In the US and Canada, it is worth one hundredth of a dollar (a cent).
   • A small amount of money: The word "penny" is often used to represent a very small sum of money or something of little value.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the coin:
  • I found a penny on the sidewalk. (I found a one-cent coin on the sidewalk.)
  • The price is two pounds and fifty pence. (The price is two pounds and fifty of the small units of currency.)
• Referring to a small amount:
  • That advice isn't worth a penny. (That advice has no value.)
  • He doesn't have a penny to his name. (He has no money at all.)

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• A pretty penny: A large amount of money.
  • That new car must have cost a pretty penny.
• In for a penny, in for a pound: If you start something, you should complete it, even if it becomes difficult or expensive.
  • We've already spent so much on the repairs; we might as well finish the job. In for a penny, in for a pound.
• A penny for your thoughts: Said to ask someone what they are thinking about.
  • You look so serious. A penny for your thoughts?
• Penny-wise and pound-foolish: Careful about small amounts of money but wasteful with large sums.
  • He refused to fix the leaky roof to save money, but now the water damage will cost thousands. He's so penny-wise and pound-foolish.
• Turn an honest penny: To earn money honestly.
  • He's just trying to turn an honest penny with his new business.

Variants and Related Words

• Pence (n): The plural form used in the UK to refer to the value (e.g., ).
• Pennies (n): The plural form used to refer to multiple individual coins (e.g., ).
• Penny-ante (adj, informal): Involving very small amounts of money; insignificant.
  • They were just playing penny-ante poker.

Synonyms

• Cent: The US/Canadian equivalent of a penny.
• Coin: A general term for a piece of metal money.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is a specific low-value coin, which differs between countries (UK/Ireland vs. US/Canada).
• Its secondary meaning is symbolic, representing a trivial amount or the concept of money in general, especially in idioms.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a coin worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit
2. a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cent
• centime