scrimp
C1informal, slightly old-fashioned
Definition
Meaning
to be extremely careful with money; to spend as little as possible, often in a way that deprives you of things.
To use something sparingly or to make something in a way that uses less material or resources than needed, often resulting in poor quality or insufficiency.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a connotation of being unnecessarily stingy or depriving oneself. Often used with 'and save' ('scrimp and save'). Primarily a verb, but also exists as the adjective 'scrimpy' (rare) and noun 'scrimping'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. The phrasal verb 'scrimp on' is common in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties, suggesting excessive or pitiable frugality.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English, but not significantly. It is not a high-frequency word in either dialect.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scrimp (on something)scrimp to do somethingscrimp and save (to do something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scrimp and save”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in formal business; used informally to describe a company or department operating with a very tight budget.
Academic
Very rare. Might appear in historical or sociological texts describing living conditions.
Everyday
Used to talk about personal finance, especially when making sacrifices to afford something.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We had to scrimp for months to afford our holiday to Spain.
- Don't scrimp on the quality of the paint, or you'll regret it later.
American English
- They scrimped and saved to put their kids through college.
- You shouldn't scrimp on health insurance.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Scrimpingly' is obsolete.
American English
- No standard adverbial form. 'Scrimpingly' is obsolete.
adjective
British English
- 'Scrimpy' is very rarely used. Example: A scrimpy portion of chips.
American English
- 'Scrimpy' is very rarely used. Example: The salad was scrimpy and overpriced.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They scrimp on food to pay the bills.
- My grandparents scrimped for many years.
- The council is accused of scrimping on essential road maintenance.
- We'll have to scrimp for a while if we want to buy a new car.
- Despite decades of scrimping and saving, they found their pension was inadequate.
- The company's scrimpy approach to research and development ultimately led to its lack of innovation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHRIMP – it's very small. To SCRIMP is to make your spending very small.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIMITED RESOURCE TO BE HOARDED. (Scrimping treats money/ resources as a tiny, finite pile that must be guarded and stretched.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'скрипеть' (to creak).
- Closer to 'экономить каждую копейку' or 'скряжничать', not just neutral 'экономить'.
- Avoid using 'crimp' (зажим) as a false cognate.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'scrimp' (save) with 'skimp' (use less material/effort). They are often used interchangeably, but 'skimp' focuses more on inadequate quality, 'scrimp' on inadequate spending.
- Using it in a positive sense (e.g., 'She's good at scrimping'). It's usually negative or neutral, not a compliment.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'scrimp' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Save' is neutral. 'Scrimp' implies saving by making difficult sacrifices and depriving yourself, often with a negative tone.
No, it's a C1-level word. More common alternatives are 'cut back', 'economise', or the idiom 'tighten your belt'.
Rarely. It usually describes hardship or excessive stinginess. 'Thrifty' or 'frugal' are the positive alternatives.
They overlap. 'Scrimp' focuses on spending as little money as possible. 'Skimp' focuses on using less of something (material, time, effort) than needed, resulting in poor quality. You can scrimp on a budget and skimp on ingredients.
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