penny pincher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, slightly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “penny pincher” mean?
A person who is extremely frugal or unwilling to spend money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is extremely frugal or unwilling to spend money.
Someone who watches minor expenditures very carefully, often to the point of stinginess or excessive thrift.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally common and understood in both varieties. The UK might have slightly more historical resonance with the pre-decimal penny.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation in AmE; in BrE, it can sometimes carry a grudging admiration for thrift.
Frequency
High frequency in both, though 'miser' or 'tight-fisted' might be used in formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “penny pincher” in a Sentence
be a (real) penny pincherbe known as a penny pinchercall someone a penny pincherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “penny pincher” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always penny pinching, even on the office biscuits.
- You can't penny pinch when it comes to safety equipment.
American English
- She penny-pinched her way through college.
- The company is penny pinching by cutting our coffee supplies.
adverb
British English
- He lived penny-pinchingly in a tiny flat to save for a house.
American English
- They managed the budget penny-pinchingly, tracking every dollar.
adjective
British English
- His penny-pinching habits meant we never went out for a meal.
- The council's penny-pinching approach has left the parks in a sorry state.
American English
- Her penny-pinching father reused tea bags.
- We need to abandon this penny-pinching mentality and invest properly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to describe a colleague or manager who refuses to approve even minor expenses.
Academic
Rarely used; 'frugal individual' or 'miser' would be preferred in formal writing.
Everyday
Common in spoken language to describe someone who avoids spending money, often in a complaining or joking manner.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “penny pincher”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “penny pincher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “penny pincher”
- Spelling as 'penny-pincher' (acceptable) or 'pennypincher' (less common).
- Confusing with 'penny wise, pound foolish'.
- Using in overly formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, depending on context and tone. It is informal and mildly critical, implying stinginess over small amounts.
To 'penny-pinch' (often hyphenated) is the related verb, meaning to be extremely frugal with small sums.
'Frugal' is a more neutral or positive term for careful spending. 'Penny pincher' implies the frugality is excessive, focused on trivial sums, and often annoying to others.
Rarely. It is predominantly pejorative. To praise someone's thrift, use terms like 'frugal', 'prudent', or 'good with money'.
A person who is extremely frugal or unwilling to spend money.
Penny pincher is usually informal, slightly pejorative in register.
Penny pincher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɛni ˌpɪn(t)ʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛni ˌpɪn(t)ʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Penny wise and pound foolish”
- “Pinch pennies”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person physically pinching a penny between their fingers, refusing to let it go.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (that can be pinched/held tightly); THRIFT IS PHYSICAL GRASPING.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is closest in meaning to 'penny pincher'?