chump change

See also: chump-change

English

From the idea that only chumps would fall for it. The neutral sense is an extension from the sense concerning indignation.

chump change (uncountable)

(chiefly US, idiomatic) An amount of remuneration, reward, or other monetary recompense considered to be insultingly small.
If you sell one of those cars, your commission will be chump change.

I don't work for chump change. I quit!
- 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 76:
  It was hard to get two dollars out of either of them, and whatever chump change they gave Mere'maw they expected her to squeeze it until it hollered.
- 2009, Breaking Bad (season 2), 'Breakage' (Episode 5 of Season 2) at 22 minutes. Jesse Pinkman to Walter White in the RV, making drugs, discussing Pinkman selling them direct rather than go through a dealer:
  "First of all, there's no we. You're talking me, solo, busting my hump slinging shards. I got profile now. Don't you get that? DEA's up my ass. No, I'm not exposing myself to that level of risk for chump change. No way."
(chiefly US, idiomatic) A sum of money considered to be insignificant.
Near-synonyms: pocket money, walk-around money, walking-around money; small change, pocket change, loose change, spare change; pittance

He spent $300,000 for his new car, but that's chump change for a billionaire like him.