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Glite Dictionary
worth the powder

worth the powder

9.8
The result is too small to make the effort
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : no vale la pena
  • Why is it worth the powder to argue?

Examples

  • This task isn't even worth the powder.

  • Many believed the repairs were hardly worth the powder needed to fix such an old car.

  • He decided the project was not worth the powder and abandoned it early.

  • If the reward is so small, it isn't worth the powder to complain about it.

  • The project was deemed worth the powder after considering the costs involved.

  • For me, arguing with him is not worth the powder; he rarely changes his mind.

  • In the end, the task wasn't worth the powder since it required so much time and effort.

Synonyms

worthless
vsworth the powder
298 3.0

Has no value or use

highlights required effort or resources as the deciding factor instead of only value
no use
vsworth the powder
133 2.5

An action that will not help

focuses on lacking value or resources rather than only lacking effect
substanceless
vsworth the powder
1 7.5

Not having real importance or value

stresses that cost or trouble outweighs benefit rather than mere emptiness
not worth the powder
vsworth the powder
  • Archaic
9.9

Too unimportant to spend time or money on

is the dictionary headword form rather than a repeated variant
not worth a whistle
vsworth the powder
  • Informal
9.1

A thing that has no value or use

emphasizes effort and resources needed rather than simple lack of value
not worth salt
vsworth the powder
  • Informal
9.9

Having little or no value

focuses on effort and cost rather than general worth judgment
as useful as a chocolate teapot
vsworth the powder
  • UK
9.9

Completely useless in real situations

expresses futility by focusing on effort and cost instead of playful imagery

Antonyms

valuable
526 2.5

Very useful and important, for example advice or skills

worthwhile
184 3.5

An activity that is good to do because it gives useful or important results

How Worthwhile

worth it
  • Informal
429 3.5
worth the powder
  • Archaic
9.8
worthless
298 3.0

Surface Forms

worth the powder positive

Morphology

worth + the + powder

The adjective 'worth' signals a value/cost relation, so there is a partial compositional cue; however 'powder' here is used metaphorically (originally referring to gunpowder/ammunition) and that cultural/idiomatic link is not obvious to an average B1 learner. Because understanding the intended meaning requires extra world knowledge about powder as a resource and is somewhat archaic, the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Worth the powder may come from old guns because firing a weapon used valuable powder. If something was not worth the powder, people meant it was not worth the cost to fire the gun, so today the phrase means 'not worth the effort or cost'.