Wise or careful in small things but not careful enough in important things. A proverb. Mr. Smith's fence is rotting and falling down because he wouldn't spend money to paint it. He is penny wise and pound foolish.
PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH
Meaning of PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH in English
American idioms English vocabulary. Английский словарь американских идиом. 2012