Penny wise, pound foolish meaning

What does the saying 'Penny wise, pound foolish' mean?

Idiom: Penny wise, pound foolish

Meaning:

Someone who is penny wise, pound foolish can be very careful or mean with small amounts of money, yet wasteful and extravagant with large sums.
Country: International English | Subject Area: Money | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
All idioms have been editorially reviewed, and submitted idioms may have been edited for correctness and completeness.
« Previous: Penny pincher
Next: People person »

Similar Idioms

Idiom eBooks from UsingEnglish.com

Download our curated lists of idioms in PDF format - perfect to use offline for reference or for use in class!

If you have a question about idioms, ask us about it in our Idioms Discussion Forum.

If you know of an idiom that you would like to be listed here, please use our online form to suggest an idiom.

See also:


Trustpilot