Definition of "penny-wise" []

• Careful in dealing with small sums of money or small matters. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The term penny-wise is hyphenated because it is a compound modifier in which wise means smart, rather than a use of the suffix -wise."
• "Sacrificing the health and achievement of the next generation is penny-wise and pound foolish when other nations are pulling ahead and leaving our children behind."
• "Their complaint that we cannot afford to spend an additional $7 billion over five years to upgrade school lunch menus by requiring more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy is a classic case of "penny-wise, pound-foolish.""