English Reference
Idiom idiom

two pennies to rub together


A minimal amount of money to live on; any money at all.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He is so poor he does not have two pennies to rub together.

CONTEXTUAL

After losing his job, he struggled to pay rent because he did not have two pennies to rub together.

COMPLEX

Despite his family's former status, the young man found himself destitute, lacking even two pennies to rub together as he wandered the city streets.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a pound to a penny

    Very likely; almost certainly.

  2. 02

    bad penny

    A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.

  3. 03

    band together

    to unite, to come together

  4. 04

    bang some heads together

    Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.

  5. 05

    beast with two backs

    Two people united in sexual intercourse in the missionary position.

  6. 06

    birds of a feather flock together

    People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.

  7. 07

    bring together

    To cause people to do something together; to bring about togetherness.

  8. 08

    eat for two

    To be pregnant

Last updated August 10, 2026