twopence

Everyday

1. The sum of two pennies in British money. tree →
2. (old) A British coin worth two old pennies, used before 1971. tree →
3. (informal, «not care twopence») to not care at all. tree →

In the lessons

Money and history lessons: before 1971 Britain had pounds, shillings and pence, with 12 pennies in a shilling. Today a 2p coin exists. In Mary Poppins the bird woman sells crumbs for «tuppence a bag». Maths: twopence = 2p; in old money, twopence was 2 of the 240 pennies in a pound.

Examples

• The sweets cost twopence each. tree →
• «Feed the birds, tuppence a bag!» tree →
• I wouldn't give twopence for that old toy. tree →
• She found a twopence coin from 1930. tree →
• Twelve pennies made one shilling. tree →
• Two twopences make fourpence. tree →
• He didn't care twopence what they said. tree →
• If you like to give me twopence you can have the rest.’ tree →

Note

Say «TUP-pence». Often spelled «tuppence». Maths: twopence = 2 pence; old money: 12d = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = £1, so £1 = 240d. Today 100p = £1.