Stiffed: meaning, definitions and examples
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stiffed
[ stɪft ]
informal usage
To stiff someone means to cheat or to not pay them what is owed, often used in contexts of not tipping service workers or reneging on a financial obligation. This usage is common in conversations about financial dealings or social interactions where one party feels wronged. It reflects a breach of trust or expectation in a transactional relationship, typically leading to feelings of resentment.
Synonyms
cheated, defrauded, shortchanged, swindled.
Examples of usage
- He stiffed the waiter after a bad meal.
- Don't stiff your friends; they helped you out last time.
- She felt stiffed when her boss didn't give her the expected bonus.
physical description
To stiffen generally means to become rigid or firm. In a physical sense, it can describe the process by which a substance changes from a fluid state to a solid or more rigid form due to various factors like temperature changes or reactions. This term is often used in scientific contexts, as well as in everyday descriptions of muscle tension during stress or physical exertion.
Synonyms
firm, hardened, rigid, tensed.
Examples of usage
- The cold caused my muscles to stiffen.
- The gelatin will stiffen as it cools.
- He was so nervous that he stiffened up when speaking.
Translations
Translations of the word "stiffed" in other languages:
🇵🇹 dureza
- rigidez
- não dar gorjeta
🇮🇳 कड़ा
- सख्त
- टिप नहीं देना
🇩🇪 steif
- starr
- kein Trinkgeld geben
🇮🇩 kaku
- kaku
- tidak memberikan tip
🇺🇦 жорсткий
- напружений
- не дати чайові
🇵🇱 sztywny
- sztywny
- nie dać napiwku
🇯🇵 硬い
- 堅い
- チップを渡さない
🇫🇷 rigide
- raide
- ne pas donner de pourboire
🇪🇸 rigido
- tieso
- no dar propina
🇹🇷 sert
- katı
- bahşiş vermemek
🇰🇷 딱딱한
- 굳은
- 팁을 주지 않다
🇸🇦 صلب
- قاسٍ
- عدم إعطاء إكرامية
🇨🇿 tvrdý
- neohýbaný
- nedat spropitné
🇸🇰 tvrdý
- neohýbaný
- nedávať spropitné
🇨🇳 坚硬的
- 僵硬的
- 不付小费
🇸🇮 trd
- rigiden
- ne dati napitnine
🇮🇸 stífur
- harður
- ekki gefa drykk
🇰🇿 қатты
- қатал
- кішкене ақша бермеу
🇬🇪 მტკიცე
- მყარი
- ტიპის არ მიცემა
🇦🇿 sərt
- bərk
- bahşiş verməmək
🇲🇽 duro
- rígido
- no dar propina
Etymology
The term 'stiffed' originates from the word 'stiff', which comes from Middle English 'stif', derived from Old Norse 'stífr', meaning rigid or difficult to bend. The transition into various informal uses likely evolved as English speakers adopted the term to describe situations where someone experiences a loss or is denied something rightfully theirs. The informal application of 'stiff' to mean not paying someone or to cheat someone may have appeared in American slang during the 20th century, illustrating a shift in language where words adapt new meanings based on social contexts and interactions. As this slang evolved, it reflected changing attitudes towards social obligations and fairness in financial transactions.