pennyworths

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralBritish

   Amounts of something that can be bought for one penny, or small amounts of something.

   Grammar: This is the plural of 'pennyworth'; the singular is 'pennyworth'.

   Patterns

   • pennyworths of something
   • a few pennyworths of something

   The old shop sold pennyworths of sweets to children after school.

   In the past, poor families bought pennyworths of tea and sugar rather than large packets.

   She measured out pennyworths of spice for each customer.

2. 2nounpluralBritishold-fashioned

   Good value or a useful amount obtained from something, especially in the phrase 'get your pennyworth'.

   Grammar: Most common in the fixed expression 'get your pennyworth', meaning to get what you paid for or deserve.

   Patterns

   • get your pennyworth
   • get your pennyworth of something

   The children ran around all afternoon and certainly got their pennyworth of fun.

   He complained loudly and got his pennyworth of attention from the manager.

Word forms

Common combinations

pennyworths of sweets

The corner shop sold pennyworths of sweets.

get your pennyworth

If you're paying, get your pennyworth.

a pennyworth of something

He asked for a pennyworth of nails.

Synonyms and how they differ

pittance

A pittance is a very small amount of money, often unfairly small; a pennyworth is simply what one penny buys.

Word family

penny noun

A small unit of money in Britain and some other countries.

penniless adjective

Having no money at all.

Commonly confused: pennyworths or pennyworth?

Practice

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