Penny pincher
Meaning: A person who is excessively frugal or stingy
Someone who is extremely careful with money to the point of being miserly. They 'pinch' every penny, squeezing value from the smallest amounts.
Examples
- 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
- 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
- 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
- None—widely understood
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
Related Phrases
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