penny-ante
[pen-ee-an-tee]
- involving a trifling sum of money; small in amount: a penny-ante investment.
- inconsiderable; minor; small-time.
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Origin of penny-ante
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
penny ante
- Cards. a game of poker in which the ante or basic bet is one cent.
- Informal. any business arrangement or transaction involving a trifling or paltry sum of money.
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Origin of penny ante
An Americanism dating back to 1850–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for penny-ante
Contemporary Examples
No, not the penny-ante conspiracy Hillary Clinton first floated back in the 90s.
He should stop wasting his time taunting Rick Perry with penny-ante bets and put his lucre to good use.
Historical Examples
Its nothing but penny-ante, with a ten-cent limit; just enough to make it interesting, you know.
The New Boys at OakdaleMorgan Scott
He was lured into a game of penny-ante poker, which assumed, before the game was finished, extensive proportions.
Word Origin and History for penny-ante
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper