not a brass farthing

not a brass farthing

Very little or no money. Refers to farthings (obsolete British units of currency, worth one-quarter of a penny), formerly made from a copper alloy (brass). Primarily heard in UK. It was while I was in university, with not a brass farthing to my name, that I truly learned the value of working for a wage. I wouldn't pay anything for this old car—not a brass farthing!
See also: brass, farthing, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not a brass farthing

no money or assets at all. informal
See also: brass, farthing, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be not worth a brass farthing
  • not worth a brass farthing
  • brass farthing
  • a brass farthing
  • alloy
  • alloy (something) with
  • alloy with
  • have the brass (neck) to (do something)
  • brass tacks
  • get down to brass tacks, to/let's
References in periodicals archive
Bake Off judge Prue Leith calls for an end to the show's crummy jokes Not a brass farthing Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is asked during a radio phone-in how much money we owe the EU It's a rock and roll thing - you rock and roll Wildman Ozzy Osbourne talks about his turbulent marriage to long-suffering wife Sharon
Quotes of the week
Next day, The Sporting Life's headline read "Not a Brass Farthing for winner backers."
Photo-finishes, justl ike sherbet fountains, aren't what they were
Not a brass farthing for American Ballet Theatre or, say, Ruth Page in Chicago.
Fording forward
As The Sporting Life's headline put it, "Not a Brass Farthing for winner backers."
And you thought you were an unlucky punter . .