nickel-and-dime Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb spend money frugally; spend as little as possible
   penny-pinch.
   
2. verb accumulate gradually
   
   • she nickeled-and-dimed together a small house for her family
3. adjective satellite of minor importance
   small-time.
   
   • a nickel-and-dime operation run out of a single rented room
   • a small-time actor
4. adjective satellite low-paying
   
   • a nickel-and-dime job

WordNet