Penny pincher

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual
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Meaning: A person who is excessively frugal or stingy

非常节俭或吝啬的人
Una persona excesivamente frugal o tacaña
非常にケチな人、しみったれた人
지나치게 절약하거나 인색한 사람

Someone who is extremely careful with money to the point of being miserly. They 'pinch' every penny, squeezing value from the smallest amounts.

一个在金钱上极其小心到吝啬程度的人。他们'捏'住每一分钱,从最小的金额中也要榨取价值。
Alguien extremadamente cuidadoso con el dinero hasta el punto de ser miserable. 'Pellizca' cada céntimo, exprimiendo el valor de las cantidades más pequeñas.
ケチなほどお金に極端に慎重な人。すべてのペニーを「つまむ(pinch)」ように、最小限の金額からも価値を絞り出す。
인색할 정도로 돈에 극도로 신경 쓰는 사람입니다. 아주 작은 금액에서도 가치를 짜내듯 동전 한 닢도 아끼는 사람을 말합니다.

Examples

  1. He's such a penny pincher—never buys a round.
    他太抠门了——从不请大家喝一轮
    Es tan agarrado que nunca invita a una ronda
    彼は本当にケチだ——一杯もおごらない
    그는 정말 구두쇠야—한 번도 한턱 낸 적이 없어
  2. Don't be a penny pincher; treat yourself sometimes.
    别那么抠门,偶尔犒劳一下自己
    No seas tan rácano; date un capricho de vez en cuando
    ケチるな、たまには自分にご褒美をあげなよ
    구두쇠처럼 굴지 마, 가끔은 자신에게 보상해
  3. The company is run by penny pinchers.
    这家公司是由一群铁公鸡管理的
    La empresa la dirigen unos rácanos
    その会社はケチな人たちが経営している
    그 회사는 구두쇠들이 운영하고 있다

Pronunciation

/ˈpeni ˈpɪntʃə/

Usage Guide

Context: frugality, stinginess, spending

Tone: critical, disapproving

✓ Do Say

  • He's a penny pincher
    他是个铁公鸡
    Es un rácano
    彼はケチだ
    그는 구두쇠야
  • Such penny pinching
    太抠门了
    Qué tacañería
    なんてケチな
    정말 쩨쩨하네

✗ Don't Say

  • Usually negative connotation
    通常带有贬义
    Normalmente con connotación negativa
    通常は否定的なニュアンス
    보통 부정적인 뉘앙스

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

American expression from the 19th century, from the image of pinching pennies so tightly they hurt—being extremely reluctant to part with even the smallest amount of money.

Etymology: From pinching (squeezing tightly) pennies

First recorded: 19th century American

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Scrooge stereotypes; Budget discussions

Regional notes: American origin but now universal.

Variations

Penny pincherPenny pinching

Related Phrases

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