to angle for farthings

9.9

To try to get small advantages in a selfish way

idiom

: buscar ventajas

She criticized him for always angling for farthings rather than seeing the bigger picture.

Examples

In business, some people waste energy angling for farthings while missing real opportunities.
Don't angle for farthings when you could ask for more!
He was angling for farthings during the negotiations, fussing over every tiny detail.
She is always angling for farthings in negotiations.
In negotiations, he was always angling for farthings, focused on trivial benefits instead of the main deal.
She spent more time angling for farthings than actually making progress on the project.
Instead of taking risks, he prefers angling for farthings to secure insignificant perks.

Synonyms

to angle

vsto angle for farthings

Informal

18 7.5

To try to get something by hinting or not asking directly

focuses on gaining small, petty benefits by calculating moves

to angle for

vsto angle for farthings

Informal

8 6.9

To try to get something by hinting rather than asking directly

aims at small advantages through petty, calculating behaviour

to play the angle

vsto angle for farthings

1 7.7

Use clever or dishonest moves to get an advantage

seeks small, petty gains rather than broad strategic manipulation

Antonyms

straightforward

51 3.6

Someone who is honest and direct, not hiding anything

How Petty

to nickel-and-dime

Informal

1 7.9

to angle for farthings

9.9

to haggle

26 3.3

to ask for

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

angle for farthings infinitive

angled for farthings past

angled for farthings past participle

angling for farthings present participle

angles for farthings third person singular

Morphology

angle + for + farthing

The sense 'to try to gain small advantages' is directly compositional from 'angle' (to attempt or obtain by indirect means) + 'for farthings' (for very small sums); a learner who knows these words can infer the meaning. Although 'farthing' is archaic, the literal logic (seeking petty/small benefits) is transparent and cross-linguistically plausible.

Etymology

The verb angle for farthings may come from the image of angling, or fishing, for tiny coins called farthings. This creates the picture of someone trying to catch very small money, so it now means 'to try to gain small advantages or benefits'.