# benny

/ˈbɛni/ (US) · /bˈɛni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/benny
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. drug tablet

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a slang name for an amphetamine pill, used to feel more awake or energetic.

For teachers: a tablet of amphetamine, specifically Benzedrine. Usually plural in common usage.

- He stayed up all night studying, fueled by coffee and a couple of bennies.
- The protagonist's descent into addiction began with a casual reliance on bennies to manage his grueling night shifts at the factory.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'bennies'.

### 2. money

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

a slang name for a one-hundred-dollar bill in the United States.

For teachers: a one-hundred-dollar bill, named after Benjamin Franklin whose portrait appears on the note.

- He pulled a couple of bennies out of his wallet to pay for the dinner.
- The dealer fanned out a stack of crisp bennies, signaling that the transaction was ready to proceed.

### 3. a tantrum

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

a sudden period of extreme anger or acting like a child.

For teachers: a temper tantrum or a fit of irrational anger.

- The boss had a total benny when he saw the sales figures.
- The toddler threw a massive benny in the middle of the supermarket because his mother refused to buy the sugary cereal.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in the phrase 'to have a benny' or 'to throw a benny'.

### 4. a tourist

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Dialect · Slang

a rude name for a tourist who visits the beaches in New Jersey.

For teachers: a pejorative term for a day-tripper or tourist visiting the Jersey Shore, typically from North Jersey or New York.

- The locals stayed away from the boardwalk to avoid the crowds of bennies.
- Every summer, the quiet coastal town is overrun by bennies who leave trash on the sand and clog the local roads.

### 5. food

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short way of saying 'eggs Benedict'.

For teachers: an informal shortening of the dish eggs Benedict.

- I think I'll order the salmon benny for brunch today.
- The café specializes in various twists on the classic benny, including versions with avocado and spicy chorizo.

### 6. to take drugs

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to take amphetamine pills.

For teachers: to consume amphetamines, derived from the noun sense.

- The musicians were bennying through the entire tour to keep up their energy.
- He was accused of bennying during the exam period to maintain an unnatural level of focus.

## Examples

- One of the best bennies of this job is the free gym membership.
- The salary is average, but the bennies like private health insurance and extra vacation days make it worth it.
- While the base pay was competitive, the executive was more interested in the long-term bennies, such as stock options and a generous retirement package.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.