penny wise and pound foolish

English

Etymology

From the British currency (one penny being 1/100th of a pound or, prior to decimalisation, 1/240th of a pound)

Alternative forms

• penny-wise and pound-foolish; penny wise, pound foolish; penny-wise, pound-foolish

Adjective

penny wise and pound foolish (comparative more penny wise and pound foolish, superlative most penny wise and pound foolish)

1. (idiomatic) prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful and profligate with large amounts.
   • 1942, Harry Elmer Barnes, Society in Transition: Problems of a Changing Age‎, page 122:

     In the past our government has nowhere been more penny wise and pound foolish than in connection with its expenditures for conservation.

See also

• take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves