be penny-wise and pound-foolish
US /bi ˈpɛni waɪz ænd paʊnd ˈfuːlɪʃ/
UK /bi ˈpɛni waɪz ænd paʊnd ˈfuːlɪʃ/
1.
to be careful and economical in small matters while being wasteful or extravagant in large ones
:
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He tried to save money by buying cheap parts for his car, but ended up spending more on repairs. He was penny-wise and pound-foolish.
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The company decided to cut corners on quality control to save a small amount, which led to major product recalls. They were truly penny-wise and pound-foolish.