Abstract
In contemporary parlance, the phrase ‘my two cents’ worth’, or its array of variations such as ‘my two pennyworth’, ‘my tuppence worth’, and ‘my two penn’orth’, is used to refer to giving a piece of advice, whether welcome or not. Popular speculation (read: Wikipedia) would have it that the phrase derives from the ‘two cents’ mentioned in the lesson of the widow’s mite in both the Gospels of Mark (12:41–44) and Luke (21:1–4) or even from poker, since the betting player must ante up with two cents before starting the game, although it has not been explained what the link is with airing an opinion. Traditionally, the modifiers ‘two cent’ and ‘two penny’ were commonly employed in a depreciative sense, to dismiss the items under particular discussion as of little value or concern. According to the OED, this figurative usage dates to the Early Modern period: ‘To make the people thinke that we reade nothyng els but ij. penny doctoures, as ye cal them’ [J. Jewell, 1560], ‘Even in a two-peny matter’ [S. Marshall, 1643], ‘Twopenny Criticks must live, as well as Eighteenpenny Authors!’ [C. Cibber, 1740], ‘This woman, with her twopenny gentility’ [W. M Thackeray, 1848]. The OED also cites some examples of the expression with ‘worth’ appended, though always in a disparaging sense: ‘Who would not give all else for two pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?’ [L. Carroll, 1865], ‘You thought two pennorth of flattery all that the occasion demanded’ [G. B. Shaw, 1896].1
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call