The idiom “Penny-wise and pound foolish” is used to describe a person who is very careful about spending small amounts of money, but careless when it comes to large expenses. It points to poor judgment in money or time management, where the focus is on saving small while losing big.
Refers to unbalanced thinking when saving or spending Emphasizes the importance of long-term planning A classic idiom for false economy or short-sightedness
Hindi Equivalent:
“छोटी बातों में सावधानी और बड़ी बातों में लापरवाही”
(अर्थ: छोटी बचत के लिए परेशान होना लेकिन बड़ी हानि की अनदेखी करना)
Detailed Explanation
Imagine someone skipping regular car servicing to save ₹500, only to later pay ₹50,000 in repairs. That’s being penny-wise and pound foolish—saving in the wrong places while ignoring bigger consequences.
This idiom is a warning against short-term thinking and over-focusing on petty savings at the cost of long-term losses.
When to Use the Idiom
- While discussing financial blunders
- To explain bad investment or budgeting decisions
- In life, health, or business contexts where short-term saving leads to big losses
- When someone is prioritizing small gains over major issues
Real-Life Examples
In Personal Life:
English: “She buys cheap makeup to save money, but it damaged her skin—penny-wise and pound foolish.”
Hindi: “वो सस्ता मेकअप खरीदती है पैसे बचाने के लिए, लेकिन उससे स्किन खराब हो गई—छोटी बातों में सावधानी और बड़ी बातों में लापरवाही।”
In Professional Life:
English: “The company didn’t buy antivirus software to cut costs, and then suffered a huge data breach—penny-wise and pound foolish.”
Hindi: “कंपनी ने पैसे बचाने के लिए एंटीवायरस नहीं खरीदा, बाद में भारी नुकसान हुआ—छोटी बातों में सावधानी और बड़ी बातों में लापरवाही।”
In Social Life:
English: “He refused to hire a good photographer for the wedding to save money, but now regrets the poor pictures—penny-wise and pound foolish.”
Hindi: “शादी में अच्छा फोटोग्राफर रखने से मना कर दिया पैसे बचाने के लिए, अब खराब फोटो देखकर पछता रहे हैं—छोटी बातों में सावधानी और बड़ी बातों में लापरवाही।”
Psychological & Social Insight
This idiom highlights a common human error—focusing on what’s immediately visible or measurable, and ignoring big-picture impact.
Examples:
- Avoiding yearly health check-ups to save money, and later facing serious illness
- Not fixing a roof leak early, which turns into a full renovation later
- Ignoring small professional investments (like training), leading to career stagnation
Benefits of Using This Idiom
- Helps highlight financial or time mismanagement
- Easy to understand and apply in real-life decisions
- Teaches the value of investing wisely, not cheaply
- Useful in education, corporate, and household settings
Usage Tips Use it in money management, health awareness, or business advice Great for pointing out misplaced priorities Adds value to budgeting discussions Can be used in light sarcasm or genuine concern
Similar Expressions
| English Idiom | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|
| Penny-wise and pound foolish | छोटी बातों में सावधानी, बड़ी बातों में लापरवाही |
| False economy | झूठी समझदारी / बेवकूफी वाली बचत |
| Save a little, lose a lot | थोड़ा बचाओ, ज्यादा गंवाओ |
| Short-sighted saving | दूरदृष्टि की कमी वाली बचत |
Cultural Perspectives
Western Context:
This idiom originated in the UK and is still widely used in the English-speaking world. It reminds people to see beyond the obvious and plan wisely.
Indian Context:
In Indian households, people often try to save on electricity, groceries, or transport, but might invest poorly in education, health, or business. This idiom fits well in such scenarios—urging better judgment.
Global Relevance:
Whether in finance, education, health, or technology, the idiom rings true in any country or culture. It emphasizes smart planning over instant saving.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever saved on something small and paid a bigger price later?
- Where can you shift your mindset from “save now” to “invest wisely”?
- Do your daily money habits reflect this idiom?
- Can you help someone avoid being penny-wise and pound foolish?
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
