spend a penny Definition

penny
noun pence (plural), pennies (plural in senses 1 and 2)

1. In the UK: a hundredth part of £1, or a bronze coin having this value.
2. In the UK before decimalization in 1971: &onetwelfth; of a shilling or 1/240 of £1, or a bronze coin having this value.
3. The least quantity of money.

Example: won't cost a penny
(N Amer)
4. One cent, or a coin having this value.
5. A coin of low value in certain other countries.
6. Money in general, usually a small amount.

Example: saving his pennies
Form: pennies
7. Denoting a specified number of pennies (as a value).

Example: a five-penny piece

Idiom: a pretty penny

ironic
A huge sum.
Example: That must have cost a pretty penny

Idiom: in for a penny, in for a pound (in for a penny)

Once involved, one may as well be totally committed.

Idiom: in penny numbers

colloq
In small quantities.

Idiom: pennies from heaven

Money obtained without effort and unexpectedly.

Idiom: spend a penny

euphemistic, colloq
To urinate.

Idiom: the penny dropped

colloq
Understanding about something finally came.

Idiom: turn an honest penny

colloq
To earn one's living honestly.

Idiom: two a penny (ten a penny)

Very common; in abundant supply and of little value.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon pening.

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spend
verb spent, spending

tr & intr
1. To pay out (money, etc) eg on buying something new, for a service, repair, etc.

Thesaurus: expend, disburse, allocate, shell out (slang), cough up (slang).
Form: spend on (often)
2. To use or devote (eg time, energy, effort, etc).

Example: spent hours trying to fix the car
Thesaurus: pass, kill, while away, idle, fritter away, drift, waste, squander, consume, exhaust.
3. To use up completely; to exhaust.

Example: Her anger soon spends itself

noun

1. An act or the process of spending (especially money).

Example: went on a massive spend after winning the Lottery
2. An amount (of money) that is spent.

Example: allocated a £5 million spend for advertising

Derivative: spendable
adj

Derivative: spender
noun

Derivative: spending
noun

Derivative: spent
adj

Used up; exhausted.
Example: a spent match
Thesaurus: used, finished, gone; drained, tired out, exhausted, weakened, wearied, worn out, debilitated, dog-tired (slang), bushed (slang), out of gas (US slang), zonked (slang); Antonym: fresh, energetic.

Idiom: spend a penny

(rit)
euphemistic
To urinate or go to the toilet

Etymology: from the charge sometimes levied for the use of public toilets. &clock; Anglo-Saxon spendan, from Latin expendere to pay out.