pennies from heaven

Idioms and Phrases

Unexpected good fortune, a windfall, as in They sent back our check—pennies from heaven . This expression may have originated with a song and motion picture so named (1936), popularized by Bing Crosby.

Example Sentences

“Swing Fever” is a collaboration with Jools Holland and the talk show host-musician’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and tackles some timeless tunes from the Big Band era, like “Pennies From Heaven,” “Lullaby of Broadway” and “Sentimental Journey.”

From Seattle Times

The four-episode series was fantastical and expressionist, harking back to “Pennies From Heaven” and “Twin Peaks,” but also straightforward in its account of the case and the complex emotions behind it; Sharpe and the show’s creator and writer, Ed Sinclair, sought a way to reflect the story’s strangeness and unknowability, and they found it.

From New York Times

As he explained, "If Hobbs and her office chose not to follow the law and, essentially, look the other way, it would be a bonanza for Democrats, pennies from heaven," before elaborating, "Cochise County is heavily Republican. According to records on the county's website, Republican Juan Ciscomani received nearly 14,000 more votes than Democrat Kirsten Engle in their race for Arizona's 6th congressional district. Likewise, Republican Tom Horne received 9,000 more votes than Democrat Kathy Hoffman in the contest for Superintendent of Public Instruction."

From Salon

I knew immediately he would not bat an eye if I would do “Pennies From Heaven” with a salsa band.

From New York Times

Some of his hit songs include "Pennies From Heaven," "It’s Been a Long, Long Time," "Don’t Fence Me In" and "Accentuate the Positive."

From Fox News

Related Words

• bonanza
• bonus