nickel-and-dime \nick"el-and-dime"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {nickel-and-dimed} or {nickeled-and-dimed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {nickel-and-diming} or {nickeling-and-diming}.] 1. To harass or annoy with petty demands or for trivial reasons; specifically, to insist on minor concessions in a negotiation. [PJC] 2. To weaken or impair gradually or by small steps; as, to be nickel-and-dimed into bankruptcy by the operating overhead. [informal] [PJC]