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 Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:29 am Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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Hi Haihao
Your assumption sounds reasonable to me. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the first recorded usage of the phrase 'a pretty penny' was in 1768 -- and I guess a penny did buy quite a bit more back then. 
http://etymonline.com/?term=pretty
Amy |
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Yankee
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| Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:38 am Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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Hi Haihao,
I think the word 'penny' is simply used in your expression as a sort of representative of money - the technical words for this sort of figure of speech are: metonym or synecdoche where the part represents the whole ie 'penny' for 'money'.
Interestingly the word 'penny' crops up in several expressions, two of which suggest the small value of the penny: | Quote: | | in for a penny in for a pound |
- if you are going to spend a little money on a venture, you might as well spend a lot more. You'll find these articles have little value now as they are now two a penny.
A
PS Don't forget: A penny for your thoughts.
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Alan
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Haihao
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| Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:55 pm Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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| Haihao wrote: | This penny must be what can make a good bargain.  |
It depends on the thoughts you barter your penny for, don't you think? |
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Conchita
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| Fri Mar 09, 2007 13:22 pm Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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| Oh sure it does, Conchita. But I always feel assured and make good bargain bartering the penny here.... |
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Haihao
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| Fri Mar 09, 2007 14:41 pm Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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| Alan wrote: | | Interestingly the word 'penny' crops up in several expressions, two of which suggest the small value of the penny. |
In the idiom 'I'm going to spend a penny', our little coin isn't worth much either, I'm afraid! |
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Conchita
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| Fri Mar 09, 2007 16:35 pm Idiom: cost someone a pretty penny |
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| Conchita wrote: | | Alan wrote: | | Interestingly the word 'penny' crops up in several expressions, two of which suggest the small value of the penny. |
In the idiom 'I'm going to spend a penny', our little coin isn't worth much either, I'm afraid! |
That is an interesting euphemism, but I've only heard it used by Brits. Twenty-five cents seems to be the going price for using a pay toilet in the US nowadays, but twenty-five pennies won't get you in the door -- you generally have to have a quarter.  |
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Yankee
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