Why do people use the term "Quarter of a million dollars"?

Question

it is far from a million (3/4 short)?? how does this expression become popular?

Answer 1

cause its easier to say quarter of a million then two hundred and fifty thausand dollars.  just like when your talking about time

Answer 2

Because $250,000 is indeed 1/4 of $1 Million dollars. Saying a Quarter million sounds weightier, and easier to say and write than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Answer 3

Because it is a quarter of a million.

Answer 4

The expression is used whenever the speaker is trying to impress the audience with the most impact e.g., "a quarter million" sounds more impressive and substantial than a paltry 250 thousand.. Also the way the human mind is conditioned its easier to wrap our minds around 1 very large concept like "a quarter mill" than many, many smaller things like 250,000,000 pennies...

Answer 5

It makes it sounds like a lot more than it really is...like this..what sounds better?? I'll give you 5 dollars, OR I'll give you 5 hundred pennies???

Answer 6

The same reason people use "quarter past the hour", "quarter cup of flour" and other similar things...

It's an english thing.  And it's a little more elegant and easy than saying Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars.

Answer 7

Probably because it sounds better than "two hundred and fifty thousand dollars".  Which would you rather have, a quarter or twenty-five pennies?

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

Answer 8

I think that it gives the number more importance when said as a quarter of a million dollars as apposed to $250,000.00. Some times you want it to sound like a lot. (i.e. I make a quarter of a million dollars a year.)