penny-pinch
|pen-ny-pinch|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɛniˌpɪnʧ/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɛniˌpɪn(t)ʃ/
save or withhold very small amounts (be stingy)
Etymology
'penny-pinch' originates from English, specifically the words 'penny' (from Old English 'pening') and 'pinch' (from Old English 'pincian'), where 'penny' meant 'a small coin' and 'pinch' meant 'to squeeze or nip'.
'penny' came into English from Old English 'pening', and 'pinch' from Old English 'pincian'; these elements were combined in colloquial usage to form the compound 'penny-pinching' (recorded in later English) and then shortened in usages such as the verb or noun 'penny-pinch'.
Initially the elements referred to literally handling a small coin ('penny') and the action of 'pinch' (to nip or squeeze); over time the compound evolved to mean 'to save or withhold money in very small amounts' and more broadly 'to be stingy.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is habitually frugal or stingy (used less commonly than 'penny-pincher').
Don't expect him to pay—he's a real penny-pinch.
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Verb 1
to be extremely frugal or stingy; to try to save even very small amounts of money.
They penny-pinch on household items to save for a vacation.
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Adjective 1
describing behavior or attitudes that are marked by excessive thriftiness.
Her penny-pinch approach to entertaining made guests uncomfortable.
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Last updated: 2025/09/06 19:56