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6 de nov. de 2023 · 1 bit = 12.5 cents. 2 bits = 25 cents (a quarter dollar) 4 bits = 50 cents (a half dollar) So "two bits" became shorthand for a quarter, the handiest 25 cent piece. Some examples of "two bits" in early American writings: "Oh yes! I will certainly take two bits worth." – John Pendleton Kennedy, Horse-Shoe Robinson, 1835.
"Two bits" or "two bit" continues in general use as a colloquial expression, for 25¢, or a quarter dollar as in song and catchphrase "Shave and a Haircut, two bits." As an adjective, "two-bit" describes something cheap or unworthy. Roger Miller's song "King of the Road" features the lines: Ah, but two hours of pushin' broom buys an / Eight by ...
two-bit: [adjective] cheap or trivial of its kind : petty, small-time.
In fact, it was so large that it was often cut into eight smaller parts, hence each one was worth ⅛ of the dollar or 12 1⁄2 cents. Therefore, with two bits of this Spanish dollar, you had 25 cents – a quarter of a dollar. Later on, when the American quarter came into use, it got the nickname “two bits” since it was literally worth two ...
5 de jun. de 2020 · two bits (n.)"quarter dollar," 1730, in reference to the Mexican real, a large coin that was divided into eight bits; see bit (n.1). Compare piece of eight (under piece (n.1)). Two bits thus would have equaled a quarter of the coin. Hence two-bit (adj.) "cheap, tawdry," first recorded 1929.
20 de sept. de 2023 · While the term “two bits” may no longer hold significant meaning in modern currency, it continues to be used as a idiom in colloquial expressions. For example, someone might say “I’ll give you my two bits” to mean they will provide their opinion or advice. Conclusion: In the old west, two bits was equivalent to a quarter of a dollar ...
The idiom “two-bit” has a rich history that dates back to the early 1800s. It was commonly used in the United States during the era of frontier towns and saloons, where coins were often used as currency. The term “two-bit” originally referred to a quarter, which was worth two bits or pieces of eight.
