not have two halfpennies to rub together
1two halfpennies to rub together, not to have — To be very poor …
2rub — rub1 S3 [rʌb] v past tense and past participle rubbed present participle rubbing [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Perhaps from Low German rubben] 1.) [I and T] to move your hand, or something such as a cloth, backwards and forwards over a surface while… …
3halfpenny — noun (C) a small coin worth half of one penny, used in Britain in the past see also: not have two halfpennies to rub together rub 1 (11) …
4rubbed, rubbing — verb 1 (I, T) to move your hand, a cloth etc over a surface while pressing against it: Kolchinsky nodded and then rubbed his eyes wearily. | She began rubbing her hair with a towel. | You ll have to rub harder if you want to get it clean. 2 (T)… …
