penny

pen|ny

S1 [ˈpeni] n

[: Old English; Origin: penning, penig]

1.)

a) plural pence

abbreviation p

a small unit of money in Britain. There are 100 pence in one pound

▪ The bus fare is 80 pence.

▪ a 50p piece (=coin)

▪ A loaf of bread costs 70p.

b) plural pennies

a coin worth one penny

▪ I've only got a few pennies left.

2.) plural pennies

a coin that is worth one ↑cent in the US or Canada. One hundred pennies are equal to $1.

3.) plural pennies or pence

written abbreviation d

a British unit of money or coin used until 1971. There were 12 pennies in one ↑shilling

twopence/threepence etc

▪ a book costing only sixpence

fourpenny/sixpenny etc

▪ a fourpenny cigar

▪ a threepenny bit (=coin)

4.) not a penny

used to emphasize that someone has no money or that something did not cost any money

▪ I haven't got a penny on me.

▪ It didn't cost me a penny .

▪ He died without a penny to his name .

5.) every penny

all of an amount of money

▪ The hotel was expensive but it was worth every penny .

every penny of

▪ He was determined to go to Australia even if it took every penny of his savings.

6.) every penny counts

used to say that money is needed and even a small amount is important

▪ Every penny counts in the battle to save the rainforests.

7.) the/your last penny

the only money that is left

▪ She's down to her last penny .

8.) a penny for your thoughts/a penny for them

spoken used to ask someone who is silent what they are thinking about

9.) in for a penny, in for a pound

spoken used to say that because you are already involved in something, you will complete it whatever time, money, or effort is needed

▪ Oh well, it's done now. In for a penny, in for a pound.

10.) the penny (has) dropped

BrE informal used to say that someone has finally understood something that they had not understood before

11.) be two/ten a penny

BrE to be very common and easy to get, or cheap - used to show disapproval

▪ Rings like these are ten a penny.

12.) turn up like a bad penny

BrE if someone you dislike turns up like a bad penny, they appear when they are not wanted

→↑halfpenny,spend a penny at ↑spend, cost a pretty penny at ↑pretty² (6)