penny in the fusebox

penny in the fusebox

English Noun
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Definition

An improvised repair made with no regard for safety.

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.

Example Sentences

  • "The fix I made was just a penny in the fusebox; we need to revisit it and fix the problem for real."
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