pound-foolish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Schools think about these institutional debts in a way that is very penny-wise and pound-foolish, and it’s preventing people from participating in the economy,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of Protect Borrowers.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Ms Devlin added the move is a "penny-wise and pound-foolish approach to workforce".

From BBC • May 15, 2023

That could make the squishy “engagement” and meager traffic that local news sites have seen as benefits of giving content to Twitter seem penny wise and pound-foolish.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2022

This is a case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

From Washington Post • May 25, 2022

The unexpected arrival in his midst of an armed smack, followed by a spell of vigorous pressing, taught him that to be penny-wise is sometimes to be pound-foolish.

From The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore by Hutchinson, J. R. (John Robert)