nickel-and-dime

Question

nickel-and-dime

Answer 1

这是习惯用语.美国人用的硬币除了penny还有好几种.例如,价值比penny高一点儿的有五分和一毛的硬币.它们是:nickel and dime.不论Nickel还是dime都是零碎小钱,人们通常认为是琐碎而无足轻重的.我们今天要学的第一个习惯用语正是nickel and dime.让我们从下面这个例子来体会这个习惯用语的含义.
例句-1：Joe wanted to be his own boss but he had only enough money to open up a little newspaper stand.Just a nickel and dime business but he hopes it's the start of something bigger.
他说：Joe 想要自己当老板,但是他手头的钱仅够摆一个小报摊.虽然只是小本经营,但是他希望这是大买卖的起点.
可见nickel and dime意思就是"琐碎而微不足道的".