paisa vasool

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi पैसा वसूल (paisā vasūl, literally “money recovered”).

Noun

paisa vasool (uncountable)

1. (India, idiomatic) bang for the buck; cost-effective, value for money, worthwhile
   • 2002, Jacob Srampickal, Messages Or Massages? Media Matters in India Today, page 46:

     Even though a film is well mounted, however much these magazines may bolster it up, if it is not paisa vasool, and pampers the people's values and devotions, they dump it.

   • 2019 January 17, Shreya Dhoundial, “It Was 'Paisa Vasool': Undeterred by Injuries, Navy Officer Abhilash Tomy is Ready to Test Waters Again”, in News18‎^[1]:

     I usually look forward to storms. It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment... For me, it's paisa vasool. I get my money back if I go through a storm like that. Otherwise I can always stay at home, you know what I mean.

   • 2020 June 28, Anvita Singh, “Into the Night: A lockdown gift from Netflix”, in The Indian Express‎^[2]:

     On a more serious note, the thrill, the rush of a ‘fight or flight’ situation is unmatchable. And it has almost always made for some 'paisa-vasool' moments when translated on screen.

   1. (by extension) appealing heavily to the masses.

Translations

high value, bang for buck

• Bengali: পয়সা উসুল (bn) (poẏośa uśul)
• Hindi: पैसा वसूल m (paisā vasūl)
• Marathi: पैसा वसूल (paisā vasūl)
• Telugu: పైసా వసూల్ (paisā vasūl)

See also

• a penny saved is a penny earned (similar literal meaning)