thousand guineas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Historical, occasionally Journalistic (e.g., in racing)
Quick answer
What does “thousand guineas” mean?
A specific sum of money, literally one thousand guineas (historical British coin/unit worth £1 1s, now defunct).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific sum of money, literally one thousand guineas (historical British coin/unit worth £1 1s, now defunct).
A historical or literary expression for a large, often lavish or elite sum of money. Can denote cost, price, prize money, or wealth, typically with connotations of luxury, high-end transactions, or the past.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually exclusive to British English. In American English, historical references would be explained or converted to dollars/pounds.
Connotations
UK: Historical prestige, tradition, upper-class transactions. US: Unfamiliar, archaic, distinctly British.
Frequency
Very rare in US English outside of historical texts or contexts discussing British history. Low but recognized in UK, especially in racing, auction houses, and period literature.
Grammar
How to Use “thousand guineas” in a Sentence
cost/be sold for/be valued at [a] thousand guineaswin [a prize of] thousand guineaspay/offer (sb) thousand guineas for sthVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Obsolete; only in historical business contexts.
Academic
In historical, economic, or literary studies discussing pre-decimal British currency.
Everyday
Almost never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
May appear in catalogues for high-end antique auctions or in histories of horse racing (e.g., 'The Thousand Guineas Stakes').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thousand guineas”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thousand guineas”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thousand guineas”
- *A thousand guinea (неправильное число).
- Использование в современном финансовом отчёте.
- Произношение 'guinea' как /ɡaɪˈniːə/ (как страна).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A guinea was worth £1 and 1 shilling (£1.05 in decimal currency). It was used for prestige pricing, while pounds were for everyday accounts.
No, it is historically obsolete. Using it today would be deliberately archaic or humorous, except in the name of the horse race '1000 Guineas'.
The guinea, originally made of gold from West Africa ('Guinea'), became associated with luxury, professional fees (doctors, lawyers), land, art, and horses—anything requiring a touch of class over mere commerce.
It is pronounced /ˈɡɪniz/, rhyming with 'bin his'. Do not use the pronunciation of the country Guinea (/ˈɡɪni/).
A specific sum of money, literally one thousand guineas (historical British coin/unit worth £1 1s, now defunct).
Thousand guineas is usually formal, literary, historical, occasionally journalistic (e.g., in racing) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not for a thousand guineas! (emphatic refusal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a posh 18th-century gentleman buying a racehorse. He doesn't deal in mere pounds; he pays in 'thousand GUINEAS' – sounds grand and golden.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURE OF PRESTIGE / THE PAST IS A DIFFERENT CURRENCY.
Practice
Quiz
In which modern context are you MOST likely to encounter the phrase 'thousand guineas'?