nice as ninepence

Corruption of nice as ninepins, from the neat and precise ordering of the skittles in the game of ninepins.

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nice as ninepence (not comparable)

1. (simile) Perfectly all right; fine.
   • 1913, Ethel Carnie, Miss Nobody, page 68:

     She had been mistress of the farm so long that it would be hard for her to play second fiddle, but give her time and she'd be as good as new butter and as nice as ninepence, he said.

2. (simile) Neat, tidy, in order.

• neat as ninepence
• right as ninepence