nickelled and dimed
Bled by fees
Nickelled and dimed describes being worn down by many small charges, fees, or demands rather than one large expense.
The phrase comes from nickel and dime, meaning to drain someone through petty amounts: We got nickelled and dimed by all the extra resort fees.
Also spelled nickeled and dimed.
- death by a thousand cutsCumulative minor injuries killing
- surchargesAdditional fees imposed
- financial stressTension from monetary difficulties
- overchargingDemanding excessive payment
- fine printMiniature contractual text
small print · drip pricing · service fees · microtransactions · predatory pricing · budget constraints · paycheck to paycheck · transaction costs · attrition · penny-pinching · hidden fees · gouged · bleeding dry · economic hardship · erosion · poverty trap · working poor · depletion