penny down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "penny down" is not a standard expression in written English and may not be widely recognized.
It could potentially be used in a context where someone is referring to a small amount of money or a minor investment, but clarity may be lacking. Example: "I only have a penny down on the bet, so I’m not too worried about losing much."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

They managed to hang on to both the house and their portfolio -- by qualifying for a 30-year loan without having to put a penny down, aside from closing costs.

The New York Times

But once you get into the habit, what you might blow on your closet could end up netting a much prettier penny down the line.

The New York Times

Similar properties in that era went for many times that, and Turner paid with a stock swap engineered in such a way that he didn't have to put a penny down.

The New Yorker

— laurie knaack (@Knaackl) 7 Mar 13 Toss a tin penny down sphincter of subway line./ Tunnel's stygian dark, can you hear its clear ring?/ Spine hums: story's third rail.

The New York Times

In the fourth quarter of 2008, the average price for remnant ads across all sites was $0.26 per thousand impressions (CPM), down 48percentt from the fourth quarter of 2007 and a penny down from the third quarter.

TechCrunch

Michael Lewis writes of a Mexican strawberry picker in California making $14,000 a year who qualified for a $720,000 home with not a penny down.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

This year's rate per loan is 6.05 pence, down from last year's figure of 6.25 pence.

The Guardian

A synagogue caretaker, a poor Nicaraguan immigrant accused by a congregation member of being a pedophile and convicted of sexual assault, he seemed as certain to disappear as a penny thrown down a well.

The New York Times

The filmmaker posted a profit of 52 cents per share in the first quarter, edging out the analyst consensus estimate compiled by First Call/Thomson Financial by a penny, but down from the year-ago report of 93 cents per share.

Forbes

Fittingly, Harley this week bucked the negative retail trend and passed analysts' earnings expectations by a penny, pulling down 30 cents per share, or $92 million–a 26% increase over last year's first quarter.

Forbes

And certainly, when I see a penny upside down (showing tails), I flip it over so that the next finder can have good luck.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial shifts, especially minor changes, "penny down" can add a touch of colloquial color to your writing. However, ensure your audience understands this informal usage, as it might not resonate in all contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "penny down" to describe significant decreases. This phrase is best suited for marginal changes, and employing it for substantial reductions could undermine the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "penny down" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier or a noun phrase, depending on the context. Ludwig shows it can modify verbs to indicate a slight decrease or function as a noun phrase referring to a very small amount of money.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "penny down" is an informal expression generally used to indicate a small decrease or a minimal investment. Ludwig's analysis, confirmed by various examples, shows it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. Although grammatically acceptable, it is best suited for informal communication; more formal contexts may require alternatives such as "slightly decreased" or "marginally lower". The Ludwig AI underscores that while the phrase is understandable, it should be employed judiciously, especially when precision and formality are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small sum

Refers to a minimal amount of money, similar to the literal sense of "penny down".

a trifling amount

Emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity, aligning with the idea of a small monetary value.

slightly decreased

Focuses on the reduction aspect, akin to a price or value going "penny down".

marginally lower

Highlights the small degree of decrease, mirroring a minor reduction denoted by "penny down".

drop a coin

Implies the action of letting a coin fall, resembling scenarios where a "penny" is physically "down".

put down a coin

Describes placing a coin, sharing the 'down' directionality.

toss a coin

Suggests a light throwing action, perhaps similar to tossing a penny down a well.

shares edged lower

Describes the small decline in the shares prices, similarly to the sentence "shares closed down a penny".

chip in a small amount

Means contributing in a limited amount of money, similar to the meaning of "penny down" in some sentences.

one cent decrement

Describes a price reduction of one cent, similar to the literal meaning of "penny down".

FAQs

What does "penny down" mean?

The phrase "penny down" typically refers to a very small decrease or a minor investment. It's often used informally to describe a slight reduction in price or a minimal initial payment.

How can I use "penny down" in a sentence?

You might say, "The stock closed a "penny down" today," indicating a negligible decrease in value. Or, "He bought the house without putting a "penny down"," meaning he didn't have to make a down payment.

What are some alternatives to "penny down"?

Alternatives include "a small amount", "slightly decreased", or "marginally lower" depending on the context. For example, instead of "the dividend will be just a penny a share, down from 54 cents before the financial crisis" you can say "the dividend will be a small amount a share, down from 54 cents before the financial crisis".

Is "penny down" appropriate for formal writing?

While "penny down" is understandable, it's generally considered informal. For formal writing, opt for more precise and professional language, such as "slightly decreased" or "marginally reduced".