penny-ante

1 of 2

adjective

pen·​ny-an·​te ˈpe-nē-ˈan-tē 

: small-time, two-bit

penny ante

2 of 2

noun

: poker played for very low stakes

Examples of penny-ante in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Its theme was that penny-ante contributions to local charitable institutions was as nothing, compared with the moral imperative to make as much money as one could, and then give it away. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Peep: ain’t no manuals for going from peddling near penny-ante amounts of crack to moving a whole kilo on consignment. —Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023

Unlike shoplifting, this is not a penny-ante crime, and it’s carried out every day with the ruthless efficiency of the boardroom. —Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 4 Nov. 2023

That was penny-ante compared to the news that a metal salvager had found 52 of that year’s Oscars statuettes, still plastic-wrapped, in the trash behind a Koreatown store. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023

Noun

And the abuelas did not like to lose their penny ante poker games, said Surfside native Michelle Kuper, whose grandmother and aunt lived in Champlain East. —Author: Linda Robertson, Anchorage Daily News, 4 July 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1865, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1855, in the meaning defined above