put a nickel in someone
v. phr.— «I had figured all along that I was going to do something with my freedom after retirement. But nobody put a nickel in me to make me dance.» —“Dreamed Of Retirement But Found Another Job” by Thomas Collins Hartford Courant (Connecticut) Nov. 18, 1956. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Secret signals on the job: Waitresses at some 19th-century restaurants ensured speedy drink service by communicating with a non-verbal code. One server took orders, then placed each customer’s cup to indicate exactly what the customer wanted...
Book recommendations, including a collection of short stories inspired by dictionaries, and a techno-thriller for teens. Or, how about novels with an upbeat message? Publishers call this genre up lit. Plus, a clergyman ponders an arresting phrase in...