Penny-Pincher

Penny-Pincher

Welcome to English in a Minute!

In the U.S., pennies are the smallest unit of money.

Penny-pincher

This cannot be what this expression means.

Whoa! The music store just got a new shipment of bass guitars!

I hope the one I want is on sale.

Jonathan, don’t be such a penny-pincher!

If you see the one you want, go ahead and buy it, whether it’s on sale or not.

Anna, I have to pinch my pennies … I might’ve purchased two or three other instruments last week.

To be a “penny-pincher” or to “pinch pennies” means to be very careful with one’s money, even small amounts.

Jonathan does not want to buy a new bass at full price.

He might not have much money left after buying that trumpet, keyboard and accordion.

And that’s English in a Minute.