nick·el-and-dime
[nik-uh
l-uhn-dahym] adjective, verb, nick·el-and-dimed or nick·eled-and-dimed, nick·el-and-dim·ing or nick·el·ing-and-dim·ing. Informal. adjective
1.
of little or no importance; trivial; petty: a nickel-and-dime business that soon folded.
verb (used with object)
2.
to expose to financial hardship or bankruptcy by the accumulation of small expenses, bills, etc.: We're being nickel-and-dimed to death by these small weekly expenses.
3.
to hinder, annoy, or harass with trivialities or nonessentials: to be nickeled-and-dimed by petty criticisms.
Origin:
1965–70
1965–70
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To nickel-and-dime
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
| Main Entry: | nickel-and-dime1 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | petty, trivial; small-time |
| Etymology: | from the five-and-dime stores |
00:10
Nickel-and-dime
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| Main Entry: | nickel-and-dime1 |
| Part of Speech: | v |
| Definition: | to charge small amounts of money for many goods and services, slowly putting a financial strain on someone |
| Etymology: | from the five-and-dime stores |
| Main Entry: | nickel-and-dime2 |
| Part of Speech: | adj |
| Definition: | involving only small amount of money |
| Etymology: | from the five-and-dime stores |
| Main Entry: | nickel-and-dime2 |
| Part of Speech: | v |
| Definition: | to damage or weaken slowly |
| Etymology: | from the five-and-dime stores |
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