English Dictionary

smell of an oily rag

名詞

オーストラリア英語 ニュージーランド英語 慣用表現

(idiomatic, Australia, New Zealand) A very small amount, or the absolute minimum (usually of money).

日本語の意味

ごく僅かな量、または絶対最低の金額（特に金銭に関して用いられる表現）

After the festival, each busker ended up with the smell of an oily rag for a whole day's work.

祭りの後、各路上演奏者は一日分の仕事に対して雀の涙ほどのお金しか得られなかった。

意味（1）

(idiomatic, Australia, New Zealand) A very small amount, or the absolute minimum (usually of money).

We have found them in the remote corners of Asia Minor, sans souliers, sans culottes, often in rags, living on the smell of an oily rag or a raw onion, trying their best to preserve order where their own miserable officials have brought shame and disgrace upon their tarnished colours.