Nickel-and-diming

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  nickel-and-dime \nick"el-and-dime"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {nickel-and-dimed} or {nickeled-and-dimed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {nickel-and-diming} or {nickeling-and-diming}.]
     1. To harass or annoy with petty demands or for trivial
        reasons; specifically, to insist on minor concessions in a
        negotiation.


        [PJC]
  
     2. To weaken or impair gradually or by small steps; as, to be
        nickel-and-dimed into bankruptcy by the operating
        overhead. [informal]
        [PJC]