penny

Related to penny: penny arcade, penny dreadful, penny pinchers

a bad penny

A person with no value. Typically used in the proverb "A bad penny always turns up." A: "I don't think we'll see Todd again now that he's been disgraced at work." B: "You never know—a bad penny always turns up."
See also: bad, penny

a pretty penny

A large amount of money. A fancy car like that costs a pretty penny, so I definitely can't afford it! Wow, Alex must have paid a pretty penny for a house in a gated community.
See also: penny, pretty

penny

informal The sum of one's available money. I didn't have a penny back in college. I survived off of rice, beans, and plain pasta for weeks at a time. We put every penny we had into this business. I don't know what we'll do if it doesn't succeed.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

penny

n. a police officer. (A play on copper. See the note at copper.) The penny over on the corner told the boys to get moving.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See:
  • (one's) two pennies (worth)
  • a bad penny
  • a bad penny always turns up
  • a penny for them
  • a penny for your thoughts
  • a penny saved is a penny earned
  • a penny saved is a penny gained
  • a pound to a penny
  • a pretty penny
  • bad penny
  • bad penny always turns up
  • bad penny, always turns up (comes back) like a
  • be not short of a penny (or two)
  • be penny-wise and dollar-foolish
  • be penny-wise and pound-foolish
  • be ten a penny
  • be two a penny
  • bet (someone) a pound to a penny
  • bright as a button/new penny
  • cost a pretty penny
  • cost an arm and a leg
  • cost an arm and a leg/a pretty penny, to
  • count (one's)/the pennies
  • count the pennies
  • cut (one) off without a penny
  • cut off without a penny
  • do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
  • earn an honest penny
  • give (one's) two pennies (worth)
  • I felt like a penny waiting for change
  • in for a penny
  • in for a penny, in for a pound
  • lay (someone) a pound to a penny
  • mean enough to steal a penny off a dead man's eyes
  • not have a penny
  • not have a penny to (one's) name
  • not have a penny to bless (oneself) with
  • not have a penny to bless yourself with
  • not have a penny to your name
  • not have two (something) to rub together
  • not have two brain cells, pennies, etc. to rub together
  • not have two pennies to rub together
  • not have two to rub together
  • pennies from heaven
  • penny
  • penny ante
  • penny dreadful
  • penny dropped, the
  • penny for the guy
  • penny for your thoughts
  • penny for your thoughts, a
  • penny pincher
  • penny saved is a penny earned
  • penny saved is a penny earned, a
  • penny wedding
  • penny wise and pound foolish
  • penny wise pound foolish
  • penny-ante
  • penny-ante game, a
  • penny-pincher
  • penny-wise and dollar-foolish
  • penny-wise and pound-foolish
  • pinch pennies
  • pinch pennies, to
  • pound to a penny
  • pretty penny
  • pretty penny, a
  • put in (one's) two pennies (worth)
  • spend a penny
  • spoil the ship for a ha'porth/ha'penny-worth of tar
  • take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves
  • take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves
  • ten a penny
  • the penny drops
  • turn an honest penny
  • turn up
  • turn up like a bad penny
  • two a penny
  • two/ten a penny
  • wager (someone) a pound to a penny
  • worth every penny
References in periodicals archive
NOW, you turn around and QUICKLY pick up each penny. You will KNOW which one was chosen!
A HOT SCIENCE Trick
Some organizations have already moved to banish the penny on a small scale.
Should we pity the poor penny?
Edith Matthai, Penny's attorney said Penny and his family were on a vacation in Tennessee when he was arrested.
Former USA Gymnastics Head Steve Penny Arrested
At around 18 months old, Penny was also diagnosed with Dandy-Walker syndrome, a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum - an area at the back of the brain that controls movement - and the fluid filled spaces around it.
Your kindness means we can help our amazing girl on her feet
The British penny, like the Roman, was made of silver for most of its life.
Shame that the penny's dropped; PETER DUTTON muses on rise and decline of an old friend that we no longer value very highly
That man, as a boy in short pants, could have had a nice treat in a sweet shop with my Indian Head penny, this penny already two decades old in his childhood.
The Common Currency of Life
A pretty penny is a lot of money; pennies from heaven bring unexpected but welcome financial benefits; by looking after the pennies you will look after the pounds and show yourself to be someone who can concentrate on saving small amounts to lead to larger sums; and in for a penny in for a pound represents wholehearted commitment to something.
Penny has an Offa-lly interesting past; Carl celebrates the man who introduced the coinage system which would last for centuries
I don't think I've seen a penny rescued from a gutter, even by a kid, since Gary Hart was running for president.
Sadly, a penny saved is a penny spurned
Penny has no desire for dying and Me-Me's portrayal of heaven does not sound all that heavenly for her granddaughter.
Penny from Heaven
The Penny Lane Timeline Course has already completed two of its four sessions, but anyone interested can still attend this Wednesday and the following Wednesday at 70 Penny Lane (3pm to 4pm).
Lost Tribes; The People's Memories
It now actually costs the Mint more than a penny to make a penny.
Should America get rid of the penny
Leeds is the author of Invest in Penny Stock, publisher of the world famous Peter Leeds penny stock newsletter (over 35,000 subscriptions sold), and pubic investing speaker.
2013 Predictions for Penny Stock Players
On considering the big rip-off with decimalisation in 1971 and the present proposal to discontinue the use of the current penny coin, with the rising costs of living and our involvement with the Common Market and Europe, I am wondering when we will be getting rid of the pounds 1 coin too, as it will be worth so little.
A penny went a long way in the old days!
Mint 2.4 cents to make each penny. Producing 7 billion of them each year results in a loss of nearly $100 million.
Penny wise