What does ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ mean?
To “penny wise and pound foolish” means to cautious with small sums but wasteful of large ones. Brewer's records this as a long-standing English proverb, familiar since at least the 17th century.
Origin
- Brewer's records this as a long-standing English proverb, familiar since at least the 17th century.
How to use it
- Common critique of false economies.
- Example: Cutting maintenance to save cash is penny wise and pound foolish.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.