the penny drops en · X
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Meanings
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(UK, informal) Understanding is reached; one comprehends.
Suddenly various pennies began to drop; now I understood obscure remarks that had been made in my presence by the Ryans, or by the nuns at school, or by Old Brigid or Tommy's foster-mother.
1979, Dervla Murphy, Wheels Within Wheels, page 56:The penny dropped as Fred realised he had been conned.
AMY: In the time I've known you, when have you shown the slightest interest in a girl? MELS: Penny in the air! AMY: I've known you for, what, 10 years? I've seen you practically every day. Name one girl you've paid the slightest bit of attention to? (RORY is flustered, runs from the room.) AMY: Oh my God! Rory! (AMY runs after RORY.) MELS: And the penny drops!
2011 August 27 (broadcast date), Doctor Who, series 6, episode 8, Let's Kill Hitler
Translations (25)
de der Groschen ist gefallen (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · sv polletten trillar ner (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · es cayó el veinte (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · es cayó la ficha (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · sv polletten faller ner (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · da der faldt tiøren (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · fr ça a fait tilt (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · de der Groschen fällt (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · it avere un'illuminazione dopo un momento di confusione o ritardo (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · fr la pièce est tombée (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · nl zijn frank is gevallen (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · hu leesik a tantusz (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · it capire all'improvviso di (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · cy mae'r geiniog wedi syrthio (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · nl het kwartje is gevallen (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · it capire finalmente (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · fa دو هزازش جا افتاد meaning "his(/her) two thousand dropped" (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · pt caiu a ficha (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · tr jeton düştü (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · es cayó en la cuenta (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · ga thit an phingin (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · it accendersi la lampadina (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · pl dotarło (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · ro îi pica fisa (understanding is reached, one comprehends) · fr le franc est tombé (understanding is reached, one comprehends)