penny in the fusebox

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An improvised repair made with no regard for safety.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see penny, in, the, fusebox.

Pronunciation

En-au-penny in the fusebox.ogg

Word forms

penny in the fusebox

Etymology

By metaphorical extension from the literal sense, a makeshift to close a circuit when no replacement fuse is at hand; unsafe, inadvisable, and disdained by others in any circumstance except a rare one like wartime heroism.

Related words

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