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thruppence

thruppence

1 9.9
A very small amount of money or something of little value
  • noun
  • /ˈθrʌp.əns/
  • Archaic
: una miseria
  • The old toy was worth less than a thruppence after years of neglect.

Examples

  • I don't have much money; just a few thruppence to spare.

  • Another thruppence from what's-his-name, the Viscount's friend.

  • He found a thruppence lying on the street and laughed at its worth.

Synonyms

spare change
vsthruppence
34 1.0

Small coins or money you do not need and carry with you

is broader applying to any very small amount or low value thing
pittance
vsthruppence
14 7.9

A very small amount of money paid to someone for their work

is broader and informal not limited to payments or wages
chump change
vsthruppence
  • Informal
14 8.2

A very small amount of money that hardly matters next to bigger costs

is more general and covers tiny money or things of little worth
knickknack
vsthruppence
14 4.2

A small cheap object people keep to decorate a home

is informal for a very small amount of money or things with little worth
pocket change
vsthruppence
13 2.5

A small amount of money, usually coins, kept for minor expenses

is a general informal label for tiny amounts or worthless items
shoestring
vsthruppence
  • Informal
12 4.3

A very small amount of money to live on

is more general and also covers tiny value items not just budgets
chaff
vsthruppence
11 8.4

Useless or unimportant things that distract from what matters

is an informal term for tiny money amounts or low value items specifically
penny ante
vsthruppence
  • Informal
7 7.9

A game people play for very small bets or something people think is not important

is an informal word for any very small amount or trivial thing
tuppence
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
4 9.9

An old British coin worth two pennies or a very small amount of money

is used informally for any tiny amount or thing of little worth
song
vsthruppence
  • Informal
4 7.9

A very small amount of money for something cheap

is an informal term for a very small amount or low value item
farthing
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
4 9.9

A British coin from the past worth a quarter of a penny, also meaning a very small amount

is a casual term for a very small money amount or worthless item
dime's worth
vsthruppence
  • Informal
4 8.1

A very small, unimportant amount

is an informal term used for tiny money or trivial items
smalls
vsthruppence
  • UK
2 8.4

Items you wear next to your skin, especially underwear, or a few coins

is focused on amounts of money or low value things rather than objects
tinker's damn
vsthruppence
  • NSFW
2 9.9

Something of little or no worth

is a casual term for any very small amount or low value thing
pice
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very small amount of money that has little value

is an informal term for tiny money or items of little value
mere trifle
vsthruppence
1 4.0

A small thing that is not important

is an informal label mainly for tiny money or trivial items
trumpery
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Cheap objects that look nice but have little value

is informal for a very small money amount or thing of little worth
chickenfeed
vsthruppence
  • Informal
1 7.7

A very small amount of money that is not worth much

is a casual word for any very small amount or low value thing
denarius
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very small amount of money often used to show low value

is an informal expression for any very small sum or worthless item
stuiver
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very small amount of money that shows little value

is an informal label for tiny money or low value things
measly amount
vsthruppence
  • Informal
1 5.1

A very small amount that is not enough

is the informal version used for tiny money or items of little value
twopenny
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.7

Of little value and not important

is an informal term for tiny money or things with little worth
ha'p'orth
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very small amount, like a little food or money

is an informal label for any very small money amount or trivial thing
baiocco
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
9.9

A very small amount of money that has little value

is used informally for tiny money amounts or things with little value
diddlyshit
vsthruppence
  • Offensive
9.9

A very small amount or nothing at all

is an informal term for tiny value but without vulgar language
mere trumpery
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
9.9

Worthless showy things meant to impress people

is chiefly informal and refers to any very small amount or worthless item
ten-cent trinket
vsthruppence
  • Archaic
4.0

A small cheap object with little real value

is used informally for tiny sums or objects with minimal value

Antonyms

595 1.1

Valuable items like gold or jewels that people keep

510 2.8

A very large amount of money

How Much

fortune
510 2.8
sum
173 1.0
small change
9 2.3
thruppence
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Surface Forms

thruppence singular
thruppences plural

Morphology

thruppence = three + pence (transparent) = three + pence

The figurative meaning ('a very small amount') is based on the literal coin value of three pence, so the relation to the base words is clear.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember thruppence is to see it as three plus pence ('three pennies'), which is why it also means a very small amount or something of little value.