penny wise and pound foolish
(Redirected from don't be penny wise and pound foolish)
See also: penny-wise and pound-foolish
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From the British currency (one penny being one hundredth of a pound or, prior to decimalisation, one 240th of a pound).
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective edit
penny wise and pound foolish (not generally comparable, comparative more penny wise and pound foolish, superlative most penny wise and pound foolish)
- (idiomatic) Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.
- 1942, Harry Elmer Barnes, Society in Transition: Problems of a Changing Age, page 122:
- In the past our government has nowhere been more penny wise and pound foolish than in connection with its expenditures for conservation.
Translations edit
thrifty with small amounts of money but wasteful with large amounts
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