Stealing miserably in annas and pice. Please help me understand it.
I am reading George Orwell's Burmese Days, and I came across the following sentence:
However, he had too much talent to spend his life in a clerkship, stealing miserably in annas and pice.

I've done some research on the meaning of anna and pice, they are all former monetary units used in India and Pakistan, so the meaning is crystal clear.
But I am wondering about whether I can use 'steal in nickel and dime' in more general situations.

another question: is "give a nickel but steal a dime' a set phrase? If not, does it sound natural for native speakers?
Thank you very much.

Question

Stealing miserably in annas and pice. Please help me understand it.
I am reading George Orwell's Burmese Days, and I came across the following sentence:
However, he had too much talent to spend his life in a clerkship, stealing miserably in annas and pice.

I've done some research on the meaning of anna and pice, they are all former monetary units used in India and Pakistan, so the meaning is crystal clear.
But I am wondering about whether I can use 'steal in nickel and dime' in more general situations.

another question: is "give a nickel but steal a dime' a set phrase?  If not, does it sound natural for native speakers?
Thank you very much.

Answer

Hello,

There is a popular phrase along the lines of 'They nickel and dime you' which means charging people small amounts of money that end up adding up over time.  For example, you could say an airline 'Nickels and Dimes you' because after paying for you ticket they want you to pay to check luggage, bring luggage on board as well as for food, drinks, better seating, a blanket and other similar things.  I think George Orwell's meaning is different and supposed to be more direct instead of a phrase.

"give a nickel but steal a dime"  I have never heard this phrase before but it sounds like a phrase and anyone who hears it will immediately understand the intent.  I may actually start using it :)