snip
noun (UK informal)

- a thing that is cheap and good value; a bargain.

- something that is surprisingly cheap or good value for money, especially when compared to its actual worth

- something bought or obtained cheaply that represents excellent value for the price paid

Oxford Learner's Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN



The word "snip" entered English in the 1550s, originally meaning "a small piece of cloth cut off or out," probably borrowed from Dutch or Low German snippen meaning "to snip, shred," which is of imitative origin—mimicking the sound of scissors cutting. The meaning "a single cut made by shears or scissors" developed by the 1590s.

The figurative sense of "a small amount of anything" appeared from 1580s. The British informal usage meaning "a bargain" or "something very cheap" emerged much later, likely in the 20th century, possibly from the idea of getting something for just "a snip" (a small amount) of its actual value. This specialized British usage reflects the playful nature of British informal speech, where something inexpensive becomes not just cheap, but reduced to almost nothing—"a mere snip."

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THE VALUE OF MEANING

Not everyone dreams of driving a Ferrari. Some of us prefer bicycles, trains, or our own two feet. But everyone enjoys feeling they’ve got good value — that quiet satisfaction of a snip — something excellent for less than expected.

Ferrari earns more per employee than Toyota, Ford, Tesla, and Honda combined— not because it makes more cars, but because it makes meaning. That’s what value really is: meaning that people are willing to pay for. You can see that idea captured nicely in the Ferrari visual below — a reminder that “Fast. Good. Expensive.” can also mean “Slow. Thoughtful. Worth it.” depending on what one values most.

A strong visual to illustrate the “Ferrari Advantage”.  CLICK HERE to take a peek!

A snip doesn’t have to be cheap. It can also be a moment when price and purpose suddenly make sense together — when we realise we’ve invested wisely, whether in a car, a book, or our own learning.

Dare we say that’s what OWAD is about — offering meaningful words with big returns: insight, precision, and the joy of language. Hopefully for you, it’s a snip too.

Helga & Paul Smith

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"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." – Benjamin Franklin

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SYNONYMS

a blue-light special, a deal of the century, a great buy, a no-brainer, a penny’s worth, a real find, a saving, A SNIP, a song, a steal, a steal at this price, at half-price, at a knock-down price, bang for your buck, bargain, buy, can't pass it up, cheap as chips, cheap at the price, cheap at twice the price, cheap buy, clearance, closeout, cost next to nothing, cost peanuts, cut-price, cut-price offer, deal, dirt cheap, for a mere trifle, for a pittance, for a song, for next to nothing, gift, giveaway, going for a song, good buy, good deal, good value for money, knockdown price, loss leader, low-cost item, markdown, money well spent, money’s worth, offer, pick-up, reduction, rock-bottom deal, rock-bottom price, value buy, value for money, worth every penny

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SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Whenever I’m tempted by A SNIP, I recall the wise words of Warren Buffett: ‘Price is what you pay. Value is what you get’. “

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D