skimp
C1Neutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
To supply or use less than is required, or to be overly economical with something.
To do something hastily or carelessly due to insufficient time or resources.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a negative judgment—using inadequate amounts leads to poor quality or insufficiency. Can relate to money, materials, effort, or time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are virtually identical. No significant lexical or grammatical differences.
Connotations
Equally negative in both dialects, implying stinginess or carelessness.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] on [noun: resource/quality][verb] [noun: effort/details/material]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't skimp on the essentials.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Advises against skimping on quality control or R&D investment.
Academic
Criticises studies that skimp on methodological rigour.
Everyday
Used regarding food portions, home repairs, or gift-giving.
Technical
Rare; could be used in project management regarding resource allocation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't skimp on the butter when making shortbread.
- The builder skimped on materials, and now the roof leaks.
American English
- They skimped on the budget for the party decorations.
- Never skimp on your studying for the final exam.
adverb
British English
- (Rare; often 'skimpily') They were dressed skimp for the winter weather.
American English
- (Rare; often 'skimpily') He packed skimp for the two-week trip.
adjective
British English
- (Rare; usually 'skimpy') The portion was skimp and left us hungry.
American English
- (Rare; usually 'skimpy') It was a skimp serving of fries for the price.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Do not skimp on sleep.
- The recipe is good, so don't skimp on the chocolate.
- The council was accused of skimping on safety measures to save money.
- The director's tendency to skimp on rehearsal time was evident in the actors' underprepared performance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SKIMP' as 'SKIP + IMP' — a little imp who skips or leaves out important things to save.
Conceptual Metaphor
ECONOMY/SAVING IS A CONTAINER (with less inside).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'экономить' which is neutral; 'skimp' is negative. Do not confuse with 'skim' (скользить по поверхности).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'skimp for' (correct: 'skimp on'). Confusion with 'scrimp' (more about saving money) vs. 'skimp' (more about using less).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'skimp' in the sentence: 'The company skimped on customer service.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's neutral to informal. In formal writing, 'stint' or 'economise' might be preferred, but 'skimp' is widely understood.
The primary preposition is 'on' (e.g., skimp on quality).
'Skimp' focuses on using less of something (quality, amount). 'Scrimp' focuses on saving money with difficulty, often over time ('scrimp and save'). They are frequently used together.
Rarely. It almost always carries a negative connotation of doing something inadequately. A positive spin would use 'economise' or 'be frugal' instead.
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