Plugged nickel

Definitions

• worthlessness
  To describe something as being of little to no value or use

Examples of Plugged nickel

• Finding a plugged nickel on the street is as unlikely as winning the lottery.

  This idiom compares something extremely rare or impossible to finding a plugged nickel, which is a nickel coin with the center removed (also known as a "plugged" or "keyhole" penny). Just as finding a plugged nickel in change is nearly impossible, some things are so unlikely or difficult to achieve that they are compared to this near-impossibility.

• Looking for a needles in a haystack is a lot easier than trying to find a plugged nickel in the parking lot.

  This idiom compares the difficulty of finding something to finding a needles in a haystack, which is an extremely difficult task. However, finding a plugged nickel in a parking lot is even more unlikely and difficult, making the search for the needle in the haystack seem relatively easy in comparison.

• Trying to get a straight answer out of my boss is like trying to find a plugged nickel.

  This idiom compares something frustratingly difficult to finding a plugged nickel. Just as finding a plugged nickel is nearly impossible, getting a straight answer out of a boss can sometimes feel just as difficult, especially if the individual is known for evasiveness or ambiguity in their communications.

• After months of searching, we finally found the missing item - and it wasn't even a plugged nickel!

  This idiom uses the comparison of finding something - even something other than a plugged nickel - to be unexpectedly successful or satisfying. By comparing the discovery to finding something that is extremely rare and difficult to find - like a plugged nickel - the speaker emphasizes the extent of their success in discovering the missing item.

• Finding a plugged nickel on the sidewalk is as rare as winning the lottery.

  This idiom is used when describing something that is highly unlikely or almost impossible to happen. In this example, finding a plugged nickel (a nickel with its center removed, making it worthless) on the sidewalk is as unlikely as winning the lottery.

• The company's profits have been plugged nickels for the past year.

  In this example, the idiom is used to describe a situation where there has been no profit or very little profit, similar to how a plugged nickel is worthless.

• Trying to sell a plugged nickel to a skeptical customer is as easy as selling ice to an Eskimo.

  This idiom compares two very difficult tasks that are almost impossible to accomplish. In this example, trying to sell a plugged nickel to a customer who doesn't believe it's worth anything is as difficult as selling ice to someone living in a very cold climate, where ice is readily available.

• Their business plan was as useless as a plugged nickel.

  In this example, the idiom is used to describe something as having no value or being completely worthless, similar to a plugged nickel. In this case, their business plan was deemed completely useless.

Conclusion

The idiom "plugged nickel" is used to convey the idea that something is worthless or of little value. It can be used to describe objects, ideas, or actions that are deemed to be useless or ineffective. When someone says "that's not worth a plugged nickel," they are essentially expressing their belief that the item or concept in question is not valuable or beneficial in any way.

This idiom is often used in informal conversations to dismiss something as being insignificant or worthless. It can also be employed to express disappointment or dissatisfaction with a particular situation or outcome, emphasizing the lack of value or benefit associated with it.

Origin of "Plugged nickel"

The origin of the idiom "plugged nickel" can be traced back to the practice of "plugging" coins in the 19th century. Plugging involved drilling a hole into a coin and then filling it with a cheaper metal, such as lead, in order to devalue the currency. As a result, a plugged nickel became essentially worthless, as its true worth had been compromised.

Over time, the term "plugged nickel" came to be used metaphorically to describe anything that was perceived as being of little to no value. The idiom has since become a common expression in the English language, conveying the idea of worthlessness or insignificance.