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nickel-and-dime
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Quick answer
As an adjective, nickel-and-dime means of minor importance. As a verb, it means spend money frugally.
Meanings of nickel-and-dime
4 meaningsadjective
Of minor importance
“a nickel-and-dime operation run out of a single rented room”
“a small-time actor”
Similar: small-timeLow-paying
“a nickel-and-dime job”
verb
Spend money frugally; spend as little as possible
Similar: penny-pinchAccumulate gradually
“she nickeled-and-dimed together a small house for her family”
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).
Synonyms by meaning
adjective: of minor importance
verb: spend money frugally; spend as little as possible
penny-pinch