Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.
Etymology:
- This was a famous phrase of 17th century in England. Pound represents currency of money in England. Of course the penny was worth less than a pound, hence the expression meant that it doesn't 'make sense to be careful or be smart about small things (or amounts of money) and be careless and negligent about important and crucial things (or larger amounts of money) in life. It is indeed silly to save small amounts and waste larger amounts.
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You clip coupons to save money on groceries yet you leave all the lights on whether you are in the room or not. Isn't that penny wise and dollar foolish?
Submitted on September 01, 2009
Modified by TriplePurple on August 21, 2024
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to penny wise and pound foolish
play the man and not the ballpick yourself up, dust yourself off, an…play the man and not the ballpickin' and grinnin'pound a beatparty and playpenny weddingpenny for your thoughtsPlay Cat and Mousepiss and vinegarplay fast and loosepickin' and grinnin'party and playpinch and a punch for the first of the …
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"penny wise and pound foolish." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/penny-wise-and-pound-foolish_6075>.
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