nickel-and-dime

[ nik-uhl-uhn-dahym ]

adjective

1. of little or no importance; trivial; petty:

   a nickel-and-dime business that soon folded.

verb (used with object)

nickelanddimed or nickeledanddimednickelanddiming or nickelinganddiming

1. 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.

2. to hinder, annoy, or harass with trivialities or nonessentials:

   to be nickeled-and-dimed by petty criticisms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nickel-and-dime¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Of course, Bernard Madoff makes Mr. Ponzi look like a nickel-and-dime grifter.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• frivolous
• lesser
• minor
• narrow-minded