dime’s worth: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘dime's worth’ mean?
The idiom "dime's worth" implies a small or insignificant value, often used to express the lack of significance or impact of something.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "king's ransom" means an extremely large or exorbitant amount of money or valuable things.
The idiom "in for a dime, in for a dollar" means that once you commit to something, you are fully committed and have to see it through to the end, regardless of the consequences or risks involved.
The idiom "great deal" means a large amount or quantity of something. It is used to indicate that there is a significant or considerable extent or degree of something.
The idiom "good value" refers to something that is worth the money spent on it, providing a high quality or benefit relative to its cost.
The idiom "go halfsies" means to split the cost or share something equally between two people.
The idiom "for my money" means in one's opinion or based on personal preference. It is used to indicate that someone believes or prefers something in a particular way, often in contrast with others' opinions.
The idiom "for beans" means doing something with very little value or importance. It suggests that the action or result is not worth much, similar to the low value of beans as compared to more valuable substances.
The idiom "for all one is worth" means to do something with all of one's ability or effort, often in a desperate or determined manner.
The idiom "drop in the sea" means a very small or insignificant amount in comparison to a larger whole.
The idiom "drop in the ocean" means a very small and insignificant amount compared to the overall need or problem.
Embedded Value
Dime's worth is an idiom commonly used in the United States. It refers to a very small amount or value, emphasizing the insignificance of something. The phrase is derived from the literal meaning of a dime, which is a ten-cent coin in US currency.
The idiom "dime's worth" gained popularity in the early 1900s, although the slang term for a ten-cent piece was used as early as the 1860s. Today, it is often used in phrases like "not worth a dime's worth" or "not even worth a dime's worth" to convey the idea that something has little or no value at all.
One related idiom is "chump-change-idiom-meaning-and-origin/">chump change." This phrase is used to describe a small or insignificant amount of money. Like "dime's worth," it emphasizes the lack of value. For example, someone might say, "That job only pays chump change." Another related phrase is "chump-change," which is a colloquial use of "chump change" as a compound adjective. It is often used to describe something as insignificant, unimportant, or of low value. For instance, someone might say, "That's just chump-change advice."
Another related idiom is "dime a dozen." This phrase is used to indicate that something is very common or easy to find. It suggests that the item or concept in question is not unique or valuable. For example, someone might say, "Those cheap knock-offs are a dime a dozen." This expression is used to emphasize the abundance and lack of worth of something.
The three idioms - "dime's worth," "chump change," and "dime a dozen" - share a common theme of insignificance or low value. However, each phrase has its own specific usage and connotations.
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The idiom "dime's worth" is frequently used in the United States to describe something of little or no value. It traces its origin back to the early 20th century and continues to be used in contemporary American English. The related idioms "chump change" and "dime a dozen" further emphasize the idea of insignificance or low value. As an experienced editor, my goal is to edit articles following AP style guidelines, while ensuring coherence, readability, and effectiveness.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *dime's worth* can be used in a sentence:
1. He didn't give his opinion during the meeting, not even a dime's worth of input.
2. I've been saving up for months, and finally, I have enough money to buy something more than just a dime's worth.
3. The book was so captivating that I couldn't put it down and read a dime's worth of other material the entire weekend.
More "Value" idioms
