Idiom of the week: My two cents

Have you ever noticed the sign behind Kent Brockman's news broadcast in "The Simpsons"? "My two cents". What do you think it means?

"My two cents" (2¢) is a US expression to introduce one's opinion with care, in an attempt to avoid potential confrontation. It implies both politeness and modesty -there's nothing much worth in 2 cents, is it?

There are many theories as to the origin of this idiom. The earliest reference is found in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke, where a poor widow donates two small coins (her two cents) in a temple, and Jesus believes there's a lot more generosity in this than in the bigger amounts of money that wealthy people made.

Another widespread theory assures that "my two cents" is linked to the fact that sending a standard letter used to cost two cents. By sending a letter (back when they were fashionable, of course), you were kind of starting a conversation, and hence the metaphor.

However, most people tend to believe the origin of this idiom lies is the 16th-century English expression "a penny for your thoughts" (i.e. you'd like to know what someone who seems absent-minded is thinking about). 'A penny for your thoughts?'  'Oh, I was just thinking how beautiful you look tonight.' That's his two cents. Currency exchange included.

Why don't you surf the Internet and do a bit of searching of your own to find out more about the origin of this idiom? You can come back later and give me your two cents on the issue.