<P> `` My two cents '' ( `` my 2 ¢ '' ) and its longer version `` put my two cents in '' is an American idiomatic expression , taken from the original English idiom `` to put in my two penny worth '' or `` my two - cents . '' It is used to preface the tentative statement of one 's opinion . By deprecating the opinion to follow -- suggesting its value is only two cents , a very small amount -- the user of the phrase , showing politeness and humility , hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement . However , it is also sometimes used ironically when expressing a strongly held opinion . The phrase is also sometimes used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions . For example : `` If I may put my two cents in , that hat does n't do you any favors . '' ( A polite way of saying , for example : That hat is ugly ) . Another example would be : `` My two cents is that you should sell your stock now . '' </P>
<P> `` My two cents '' ( `` my 2 ¢ '' ) and its longer version `` put my two cents in '' is an American idiomatic expression , taken from the original English idiom `` to put in my two penny worth '' or `` my two - cents . '' It is used to preface the tentative statement of one 's opinion . By deprecating the opinion to follow -- suggesting its value is only two cents , a very small amount -- the user of the phrase , showing politeness and humility , hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement . However , it is also sometimes used ironically when expressing a strongly held opinion . The phrase is also sometimes used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions . For example : `` If I may put my two cents in , that hat does n't do you any favors . '' ( A polite way of saying , for example : That hat is ugly ) . Another example would be : `` My two cents is that you should sell your stock now . '' </P>
where did my two cents phrase come from
where did my two cents phrase come from
original English idiom `` to put in my two penny worth ''
original English idiom `` to put in my two penny worth ''