Cheapskate: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฐ
Add to dictionary

cheapskate

 

[ หˆtสƒiหp.skeษชk ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial behavior

A cheapskate is someone who is excessively frugal or stingy, often refusing to spend money even when it is necessary or appropriate. This term is typically used in a negative context to describe individuals who avoid paying their fair share, seek out the best deals obsessively, or are unwilling to invest in quality. Cheapskates may take pride in their ability to save money but can come off as miserly to those around them. Their behavior often leads to social friction, especially in group settings where expenses are shared.

Synonyms

miser, penny-pincher, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad.

Examples of usage

  • He's such a cheapskate that he never buys his friends coffee.
  • You could tell she was a cheapskate when she insisted on splitting the bill down to the last penny.
  • As a cheapskate, he always looks for the biggest discount, even if it means sacrificing quality.
  • It's frustrating being friends with a cheapskate who never wants to spend any money.
  • Some people think being a cheapskate is savvy, but it can ruin friendships.

Translations

Translations of the word "cheapskate" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น miserรกvel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เค‚เคœเฅ‚เคธ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Geizkragen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pelit

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะบะฝะฐั€ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ skฤ…piec

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‘ใก

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท radin

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tacaรฑo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท cimri

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ตฌ๋‘์‡ 

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุฎูŠู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลกkrลฅa

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ลกkrลฅa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฐๆฐ”้ฌผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skop

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fรญflari

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะตัˆะบะต

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ™แƒแƒ แƒ’แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ xษ™sis

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tacaรฑo

Etymology

The term 'cheapskate' originated in the late 19th century in the United States, combining the word 'cheap,' which refers to low cost or price, with 'skate,' a slang term for a scoundrel or rascal. The first recorded use of 'cheapskate' appeared around 1916 and was often associated with someone who would go to great lengths to avoid spending money. The phrase captures the essence of stinginess that many people associate with individuals who are overly concerned with saving money. Over time, this term has evolved within colloquial speech to denote someone who not only saves money but does so in a way that may be socially unacceptable. In contemporary culture, 'cheapskate' is frequently used humorously or pejoratively to describe individuals who are excessively thrifty or reluctant to contribute financially, even in situations where it would be reasonable to do so.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,767, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.