pretty penny

English

Noun

pretty penny (plural pretty pennies)

1. (idiomatic) A considerable amount of money; a high price or a high income.
   • 1850, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis, ch. 75,

     We shall have our branch line—our shares are up, sir—and we buy your three fields along the Brawl, and put a pretty penny into your pocket, Mr. Pendennis.

   • 1921, John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga, part 1, ch. 6,

     He expected she was spending a pretty penny on dress.

   • 2007, Barbara Kiviat, "Stephen Schwarzman," Time, 30 Apr.,

     Schwarzman's firm makes a pretty penny in a number of finance fields.

Derived terms

• cost a pretty penny