nickel-and-dime

CIDE DICTIONARY

nickel-and-dime, v. t. 

•  To harass or annoy with petty demands or for trivial reasons;  [PJC]
•  To weaken or impair gradually or by small steps; as, to be nickel-and-dimed into bankruptcy by the operating overhead.  [PJC]

nickel-and-dime, a. 

•  Trivial; unimportant; petty; as, nickel-and-dime criticisms.  [PJC]
•  Involving only small amounts of money; small-time; as, a nickel-and-dime business operation.  [PJC]