Phrase guide

not worth a brass farthing

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Worth nothing or next to nothing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • 2005, Jeremy Page, "Russia is now ripe for freedom revolution, warns Solzhenitsyn," timesonline.com (UK), 7 Jun. (retrieved 29 Sep. 2008), Democracy is not worth a brass farthing if it is being installed by bayonets.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: ne pas valoir tripette — worth nothing
  • Italian: non valere una cicca — worth nothing
  • Swedish: inte värd ett rött öre — worth nothing
  • Swedish: inte värd ett ruttet lingon — worth nothing
  • Swedish: inte värd ett korvöre — worth nothing