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Red cent
01
an amount of money that is extremely small
Dialect
American
American
Idiom
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
red cents
What is the origin of the idiom "red cent" and when to use it?
The idiom "red cent" has its origin in the United States during the 19th century. It refers to the small copper coin known as the "cent," which used to have a reddish hue due to its copper content. This phrase is used to emphasize the idea that there is no money or an extremely small amount of money involved.
Examples
He did not pay a red cent for the repairs.
02
something of no value or significance, often used to express disdain or disregard
Informal
Examples
His promises aren’t worth a red cent.
