nickel-and-dime
[ nik-uhl-uhn-dahym ]
/ ˈnɪk əl ənˈdaɪm /
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adjective
of little or no importance; trivial; petty: a nickel-and-dime business that soon folded.
verb (used with object), nick·el-and-dimed or nick·eled-and-dimed,nick·el-and-dim·ing or nick·el·ing-and-dim·ing.
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.
to hinder, annoy, or harass with trivialities or nonessentials: to be nickeled-and-dimed by petty criticisms.
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THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of nickel-and-dime
First recorded in 1965–70
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021