penny
/ˈpenɪ/noun
(pl. 指硬币的个数用pennies,指金额用 pence)
1
- （缩略词： p.）a British bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound便士（英国铜硬币和货币单位, 100便士等于1英镑）。
1.1
- （缩略词： d.）a former British coin and monetary unit equal to one twelfth of a shilling and 240th of a pound便士（英国旧时硬币和货币单位, 12便士等于1先令, 240便士等于1英镑）。
1.2
- N. Amer. informal a one-cent coin〈北美, 非正式〉一分面额的硬币。
1.3
pennies
a small sum of money一小笔钱：in the current economic situation any chance to save a few pennies is welcome.
在当前的经济形势下, 任何能省一些小钱的机会都是受欢迎的。
1.4
- (in biblical use) a denarius〈圣经〉迪纳里厄斯（古罗马的金币或银币）。
- The penny has its origins in the Roman denarius. The English silver penny first appeared in the late 8th century and was the only coin in circulation for several centuries. The penny was minted in copper from 1797 and in bronze from 1860; coining of silver pennies ceased with the reign of Charles Ⅱ, apart from a small regular issue as Maundy money.
2
- with negative
a penny
used for emphasis to denote no money at all一便士, 一分（用于强调没钱）： we didn't get paid a penny.
我们一便士也没得到。
USAGE
On the different uses of the plural forms pence and pennies, see usage at PENCE.
短语
a bad penny always turns up
- proverb someone or something unwelcome will always reappear or return〈谚〉不想看到的总是一再出现; 不受欢迎的总会回来。
be two（或ten）a penny
- chiefly Brit. be plentiful or easily obtained and consequently of little value〈主英〉太多（或太容易得到）而不值钱。
count（或watch 或〈美〉 pinch）the（或your）pennies
- be careful about how much one spends小心花钱, 精打细算。
in for a penny, in for a pound
- used to express someone's intention to complete an enterprise once it has been undertaken, however much time, effort, or money this entails一旦开始就做到底; 一不做, 二不休。
look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
- proverb if you concentrate on saving small amounts of money, you'll soon amass a large amount〈谚〉积少成多; 注意存小钱很快就可以积累一大笔钱。
pennies from heaven
- unexpected benefits, especially financial ones意外的好处, 意外之财。
the penny dropped
- informal, chiefly Brit. used to indicate that someone has finally realized or understood something〈非正式, 主英〉最后明白了, 终于明白了。
a penny for your thoughts
- used in spoken English to ask someone what they are thinking about用于英语口语你呆呆地在想什么啦！
词源