Skinflint - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A skinflint is a person who is extremely unwilling to spend money, often to the point of being stingy or miserly. The term implies excessive frugality or greed.
Definition:
A miserly person who is unwilling to spend money.
Synonyms:
miser, cheapskate, tightwad, penny-pincher
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
spendthrift, generous person
Common Collocations:
stingy skinflint, notorious skinflint, old skinflint
Derivatives:
skinflinty (adj.), skinflintiness (n.)
Usage Tips:
Use "skinflint" to describe someone excessively frugal, often with a negative connotation.
Common Phrases:
tight as a skinflint, skinflint’s purse, penny-pinching skinflint
Etymology:
Originates from the idea of someone so stingy they would "skin" a flint (a hard stone) to save money.
Examples:
- 1. He’s such a skinflint he refuses to buy new shoes.
- 2. The old skinflint counted every penny before paying the bill.
- 3. Don’t be a skinflint—tip the waiter generously!
- 4. Her reputation as a skinflint made her unpopular at parties.