'n Appel und 'n Ei

German

Alternative forms

• ein Apfel und ein Ei (adapted to standard German; less common)

Etymology

Literally, “an apple and an egg”. From German Low German and/or Central German; see Appel (“apple”). On farms, apples and eggs were often the most numerous produce, so they were very cheap. The same in Dutch een appel en een ei.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [n̩ ˌapəl ʊn(t) n̩ ˈ(ʔ)aɪ̯]

Phrase

'n Appel und 'n Ei

1. (idiomatic, regional) peanuts; a low, minuscule price

   Er arbeitet für 'n Appel und 'n Ei.

   He works for almost nothing.