What does nickeling and diming mean?

Definition of nickel-and-dime (Entry 2 of 2) transitive verb. 1 : to impair, weaken, or defeat piecemeal (as through a series of small incursions or excessive attention to minor details) 2 : to treat (a person or situation) by paying excessive attention to small amounts of money often with a detrimental effect.

Where does the term nickel and diming come from?

First used in the late 1800s to mean a small amount of money, nickle-and-dime took on its adjective and verbal definitions in the early 1900s.

Is nickel-and-Dimed an idiom?

nickel-and-dime someone (to death) Fig. to make numerous small monetary charges that add up to a substantial sum. Those contractors nickel-and-dimed me to death. Just give me the whole bill at one time.

Whats the meaning of nickels?

A nickel is a five-cent coin that got its name from the metal. For most people, a nickel means five cents. The coin is mostly copper, but about 25 percent of it is actually nickel. The word comes from the German Kupfernickel, for “copper demon” because miners were tricked as they first thought the nickel was copper.

What does to “nickel and dime” someone mean?

AMERICAN 1. If you describe something as nickel and dime, you mean that it is not important or serious, or involves only small amounts of money. 2. If someone nickels and dimes someone or something, they harm them by continually taking small amounts of money away from them, or by continually making small changes or requests.

What is a nickel and dime person mean?

If you describe something as nickel and dime, you mean that it is not important or serious, or involves only small amounts of money. Note: A nickel is a five cent coin and a dime is a ten cent coin. I want to keep the campaign on the issues that matter.

What does this nickel and Dimed quote mean?

This quote is actually by essayist H.L. Mencken. In the context of Nickel and Dimed, it means the majority of Americans are working hard just to put food on the table and find a safe place to live. One of the aspects of surviving on the minimum wage that Ehrenreich documents is that it’s difficult to find a safe place to live.