definition of 

penny

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noun [countable]  /ˈpeni/ 

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singular	penny
plural	pennies

phrases

• every penny

  all of an amount of money

  It’s worth every penny.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: more

• in for a penny, in for a pound

  informal
  used for saying that you intend to finish doing something that you have started, or intend to do it thoroughly

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: where there’s a will, there’s a way, I/we etc will not rest until..., there’s no stopping someone, if it kills you, if it’s the last thing I do... more

• not have a penny to your name

  to have no money

  She married a poor writer without a penny to his name.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: be poorly off, be broke, be well/badly off, feel the pinch, not have a bean... more

• not have two pennies to rub together

  British informal
  to have no money, or very little money

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: be poorly off, be broke, be well/badly off, feel the pinch, not have a bean... more

• a penny

  used in negative statements to mean no money at all

  It’s not worth a penny.

  He never gave us a penny.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: nothing, none, no one, solitary, zilch... more

• the penny drops

  British informal
  used when someone finally realizes or understands something

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: of course, OK, all right, fair enough, I know... more

• a penny for your thoughts

  spoken
  used for asking someone what they are thinking about

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: more

• penny wise, pound foolish

  not willing to spend small amounts of money, but likely to spend large amounts in a stupid way

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: thrifty, economical, frugal, careful, mean... more

• ten a penny

  British informal
  very common and therefore not worth a lot

  False friends are ten a penny.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: normal, ordinary, standard, routine, commonplace... more

• to the penny

  calculated exactly

  She knows how much she spends, to the penny.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: exact, accurate, perfect, precise, strict... more

• turn up like a bad penny

  informal
  if someone who you do not like turns up like a bad penny, they always seem to appear in situations where you do not want them

  Tom was the bad penny that always turned up.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: arrive, enter, reach, get in, come in... more

• your last penny

  all the money that you have left

  My dad would give you his last penny.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of penny: more