单词 | penny |
释义 | penny (peni ) Word forms: pennies , pence language note: The form pence is used for the plural of meaning [sense 1]. 1. countable noun B1 In Britain, a penny is one hundredth of a pound, or a coin worth this amount of money. There was nothing over a penny. ...a shiny newly minted penny. 2. countable noun A penny is a British coin used before 1971 that was worth one twelfth of a shilling. 3. countable noun A penny is one cent, or a coin worth one cent. [US, informal] Unleaded gasoline rose more than a penny a gallon. 4. singular noun If you say, for example, that you do not have a penny, or that something does not cost a penny, you are emphasizing that you do not have any money at all, or that something did not cost you any money at all. [emphasis] From the day you arrive at my house, you need not spend a single penny. The Brilliantons paid their rent on time and did not owe him a penny. I asked her if he had given her any money. 'Not a penny.' 5. the penny dropped phrase If you say the penny dropped, you mean that someone suddenly understood or realized something. [mainly British, informal] 'Did he know who you are?'—'I think so. I think the penny dropped.' 6. to spend a penny phrase [VERB inflects] If someone says that they are going to spend a penny, they mean that they are going to go to the toilet. [British, old-fashioned, politeness] 7. two a penny phrase Things that are said to be two a penny or ten a penny are not valuable or interesting because they are very common and easy to find. [British, informal] Leggy blondes are two a penny in Hollywood. 8. worth every penny phrase [verb-link PHRASE] If you say that something or someone is worth every penny, you mean that they are worth all the money that is spent on them. [emphasis] The operation cost £100,000 and it was worth every penny. The directors of this company feel he's worth every penny. Idioms: the penny drops [mainly British] said to mean that someone finally understands or realizes something It seems the penny has finally dropped – house prices won't budge until first-time buyers are tempted into the market. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers turn up like a bad penny [British, old-fashioned] to appear again in a place where you are not welcome or wanted Pete goes down very well with everyone except Ross, who makes zero effort when he turns up like the proverbial bad penny. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers two a penny or ten a penny used for describing things or people that are not especially valuable or interesting because there are a lot of them. The American expression is a dime a dozen. Gloomy economic forecasts are ten-a-penny in Europe. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers not have a penny to your name or not have a cent to your name to have very little money He didn't have a penny to his name. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Collocations: single penny From this season onwards, Britain's top players will not receive a single penny from the organisation charged with ensuring elite sporting success. Times, Sunday Times (2013) She didn't take a single penny. Times, Sunday Times (2006) But the business has struggled and has yet to make a single penny of profit. Times, Sunday Times (2006) Translations: Chinese: 便士 Japanese: ペニー |
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