Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CATCHPENNY

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explore the archives: If something two-bit is worth 25 cents (two of the eight bits that add up to a dollar), then something catchpenny must worth significantly less, right? That's pretty accurate: catchpenny means "almost valueless and designed to sell quickly." Catchpenny things can also be called taw___, meaning "tacky, tasteless, and shoddy." make your point with... "CATCHPENNY" Something catchpenny (like a book, a souvenir, or a rumor) is cheap, almost worthless, and is designed to catch people's attention so they accept it fast. Pronunciation: CATCH pin ee Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a catchpenny thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was catchpenny.") Other forms: "Catchpenny" is also a noun meaning "a thing that's cheap, worthless, and made to sell fast." How to use it: Although not many of your listeners will know this word, they'll probably understand it right away. Like the words "money-grubbing" (from 1846) and "clickbait" (1999), "catchpenny" (1760) defines itself pretty clearly. You might talk about catchpenny articles and books and magazines, catchpenny titles and songs and lyrics, catchpenny shows and movies, catchpenny knickknacks and souvenirs and toys, catchpenny tricks and devices, even catchpenny rumors, scandals, and affairs. examples: I wonder if Friedrich Nietzsche would enjoy seeing his sentiments being recycled into catchpenny pop lyrics. I promise never to display those ads with catchpenny claims about melting your body fat with one weird trick. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "catchpenny" means when you can explain it without saying "low-quality" or "made just to attract buyers." try it out: Fill in the blank: "I can't believe I (bought/read/clicked on) this catchpenny _____." Example: "I can't believe I read this whole catchpenny series of vampire books." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play! From yesterday: The title of this Kenny Loggins song, released in 1984 and featured in a movie with the same title, means "moving freely" or "free from commitments or responsibilities." The title is _________. Answer: Footloose. Try this today: The one-syllable title of this Madonna song, released in 1990, is also the title of a popular magazine and means "fashionableness, popularity, or broad acceptance." The title is _____. review today's word: 1. The opposite of CATCHPENNY is A. FIRST-RATE B. SECOND-HAND C. THIRD-DEGREE 2. These aren't _____ but rather catchpenny _____. A. technically fruits .. vegetables B. designer bags .. imitations C. entrees .. appetizers Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B