nickel-and-dime
Penny-pinching in style
Nickel-and-dime means to drain resources through many small charges or to treat something as petty and insignificant.
A company might nickel-and-dime customers with fees for every minor service.
As an adjective, it describes something small-time or inconsequential: a nickel-and-dime operation.
The image is of accumulating trivial amounts rather than dealing in substantial sums.
Insignificantly small
- triflingOf no real importance
- picayuneOf trivial importance
- paltryContemptibly meager
- measlyContemptibly inadequate
niggling · minor · insignificant · inconsequential · negligible · marginal · penny-ante · small-potatoes
Extreme reluctance to spend
- tightfistedUnwilling to spend freely
- stingyUnwilling to spend freely
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
- miserlyExcessively reluctant to spend
cheapskate · scrimping · thrifty · budget · skinflint · pinchpenny · cost-cutting · sparing
In gradual increments
- piecemealIn separate stages
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
- stepwiseProceeding by degrees
creeping · additive · progressive · mounting · accruing · compounding · escalating · sneaky
piddling
Insignificantly small
measly · niggling · minor · insignificant · inconsequential · negligible · marginal · penny-ante · small-potatoes · two-bit
penny-pinching
Extreme reluctance to spend
- tightfistedUnwilling to spend freely
- stingyUnwilling to spend freely
- parsimoniousExcessively unwilling to spend
miserly · cheapskate · scrimping · thrifty · budget · skinflint · pinchpenny · cost-cutting · sparing · grudging
bit-by-bit
In gradual increments
- piecemealIn separate stages
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
stepwise · creeping · additive · progressive · mounting · accruing · compounding · escalating · sneaky · insidious
gouge
Concave carving blade
milk · swindle · bilk · rip-off · shake-down · chisel · shortchange · hustle · scam · con
surcharge
Extra fee added
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
nickel-and-dimegenerous
Willing to give freely
lavish · extravagant · openhanded · munificent · profligate
nickel-and-dimebig-picture
Comprehensive overall perspective
large-scale · go big · major-league · substantial · comprehensive
nickel-and-dimegenerous
Willing to give freely
above-board · magnanimous · big-hearted · charitable · benevolent