penny wise and pound foolish
Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't be penny wise and pound foolish with your home repairs.”
“You are penny wise and pound foolish when you skip doctor visits to save money.”
“He saved money on cheap tires but caused an expensive accident, proving he was penny wise and pound foolish.”
“She spends hours searching for coupons to save a few cents but then buys a luxury car she cannot afford, being penny wise and pound foolish.”
“The company is being penny wise and pound foolish by cutting the staff training budget, as mistakes will eventually cost them thousands in lost revenue.”
“By neglecting the building's structural maintenance to save on minor costs, the owners proved themselves penny wise and pound foolish in the long run.”
From the British currency, referring to the penny as a minor unit of value against the pound. The phrase reflects the fiscal mathematics of the era prior to decimalisation, when the pound was comprised of 240 pence rather than the modern 100. It survives as a measure of the individual who applies rigorous thrift to the smallest denomination while allowing the larger sum to vanish through negligence.
- 01
a pound to a penny
Very likely; almost certainly.
- 02
an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
Precaution and prevention of an undesirable thing is preferable to dealing with its potential consequences.
- 03
bad penny
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
- 04
merry-go-round
[Cockney slang]pound
- 05
none the wiser
Not at all aware of something that has happened; oblivious to an incident or occurrence.
- 06
penny for your thoughts
Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.
- 07
penny in the fusebox
An improvised repair made with no regard for safety.
- 08
penny pincher
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
Last updated August 10, 2026