two’s and fews, phr. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

two’s and fews phr.

[orig. of prostitutes who charge two dollars, but often have to take less, i.e. whatever they can get]

having no or very little money.

1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 356: Two’s and fews: prostitutes try to collect the standard two dollars for their services, but often they have to take whatever they can get – in other words, two’s when they can get them, fews when they can’t. The term has come to have a meaning less limited occupationally: a little money, whatever you can raise, the most you can scare up.
1946		D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam News 7 Sept. 17: [They] figure somebody ought to give ’em a few twos and fews for a change.
1959		Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 54: A pusher, huh? If that was the case, how come I had the twos and fews?