penny in the fusebox
An improvised repair made with no regard for safety.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He put a penny in the fusebox and nearly started a fire.”
“You are taking a huge risk by putting a penny in the fusebox.”
“Desperate to get the lights back on, she used a penny in the fusebox instead of calling an electrician.”
“Using a bent paperclip to bridge the broken circuit was a dangerous penny in the fusebox that eventually fried the entire motherboard.”
“The inspector shuddered at the sight: some previous tenant, seeking a quick fix, had jammed a penny in the fusebox, creating a hazard that could have burned the building down.”
Derived from the literal practice of inserting a copper coin into a fusebox to restore an electrical circuit when a proper replacement was unavailable. While the copper permitted the current to flow, it lacked the safety mechanism of a melting fuse, rendering the improvisation hazardous and widely disdained. The habit was considered a desperate makeshift, tolerable only under extreme pressures such as wartime necessity, though it remained a permanent risk to the building in question.
- 01
a pound to a penny
Very likely; almost certainly.
- 02
bad penny
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
- 03
penny for your thoughts
Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.
- 04
penny pincher
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
- 05
penny wedding
A wedding at which the guests contribute payments in order to fund the event and to benefit the newly-married couple.
- 06
penny wise and pound foolish
Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.
- 07
pretty penny
Chiefly preceded by a: a considerable amount of money; a high income or price.
- 08
ten a penny
So common as to be practically or almost worthless.
Last updated August 10, 2026