ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nickel and dime

idiom
Meaning

Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.


Origin

disputed origin

From the names of two US coins of small value.

Examples
SIMPLE

They nickel and dime their customers for every small service.

CONTEXTUAL

The airline will nickel and dime you for extra bags, seat selection, and even water.

COMPLEX

Rather than offering a comprehensive package, the company chose to nickel and dime its clients through a series of hidden, incremental fees that eventually totaled a significant sum.

Anchors to
Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    a dime a dozen

    So common as to be practically or almost worthless.

  2. 02

    drop a dime

    To make a telephone call.

  3. 03

    nickel nurser

    A miser.

  4. 04

    nickel tour

    Synonym of fifty-cent tour.

  5. 05

    not worth a dime

    Worthless or nearly so: lacking in value.

  6. 06

    not worth a plug nickel

    Having no or almost no value; worthless.

  7. 07

    Yankee dime

    A kiss.

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