PhrasesHub

Penny pinching

    Definitions

      • being frugal with money
        Describing someone who is excessively careful with their spending, often to the point of being miserly

      • cost-cutting
        Referring to the act of trying to reduce expenses, especially in a business or organization

    Examples of Penny pinching

    • The company's new CEO is known for being penny pinching in his management style. He's constantly looking for ways to cut costs and save money.

      This example illustrates the use of the idiom "penny pinching" as a descriptive phrase to convey the idea that someone is being overly frugal, to the point of being stingy or misers. In this instance, it's being used in the context of leadership, where the CEO's frugality could potentially lead to more prudent financial decision making for the company.

    • After working hard all year, Emily was delighted to finally receive a promotion at her job. However, she was left feeling disappointed when her boss announced a new policy that was clearly penny pinching. The company had always provided its employees with free coffee and snacks in the break room, but now management was expecting staff to pay their own way.

      This example uses the idiom "penny pinching" to highlight the concept of being excessively frugal to the extent of being unfair or unpleasant. Here, it's being employed in the context of workplace policies, where the new rule is being criticized for being too frugal, and may potentially impact employee morale negatively.

    • Samantha's parents are both retired now, but they still live frugally and won't splash out on unnecessary expenses. They're the epitome of penny pinching, always looking for ways to save money.

      This example demonstrates the use of the idiom "penny pinching" to describe the behavior of people who are overly cautious with their finances, perhaps as a result of their circumstances such as lower income or retirement. In this case, it's being used to describe the habits of Samantha's parents, who are being depicted as very cautious with their money.

    • Tom was planning a surprise party for his wife's birthday, but he quickly realized that he didn't have enough money for the decorations and food. Undeterred, he decided to go all out with his penny pinching skills, and ended up creating an amazing party on a shoestring budget.

      This example reflects the contrasting use of the idiom "penny pinching", depicting it in a positive light. Here, it's used to describe Tom's resourcefulness and his ability to be creative with limited finances. The use of the word "all out" indicates that Tom was not at all hesitant or shy about being frugal, but instead embraced it as a challenge to create a memorable party on a budget.

    • Sarah is a penny pincher when it comes to her grocery shopping. She carefully plans her meals for the week, makes a list, and sticks to it, avoiding impulse buys. She also looks for sales and coupons to save money.

      The term "penny pincher" refers to someone who is very frugal and tries to save money in any way possible, even if it means being very careful with spending and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

    • The small business owner was known for being a penny pincher, often opting to repair equipment instead of buying new ones, and minimizing unnecessary expenses to keep costs down.

      This example illustrates how the term "penny pincher" can be used to describe someone's overall approach to managing finances, particularly in a professional context.

    • The penny pincher would rather drive an older car a few more years than spend money on a new one, as he believes in taking care of what he has and avoiding wasteful expenses.

      This example showcases how "penny pincher" can be used to describe someone's specific spending habits or decisions related to a particular expense.

    • The accountant received a penny pincher award for his innovative ideas to cut costs in the company, such as implementing remote work, reducing office expenses, and streamlining processes to eliminate wasteful spending.

      In this example, "penny pincher" is used metaphorically to highlight someone's exceptional ability to manage finances and save money in a professional or business context.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "penny pinching" is used to describe both individuals and organizations who are very careful with their money. It can be used to caution against being too frugal, or to describe the act of cutting costs.

    Origin of "Penny pinching"

    The origin of the idiom "penny pinching" dates back to the 16th century in England. During this time, people would literally pinch pennies to make them last longer. The phrase became popular as a way to describe someone who was very careful with their money, to the point of being stingy or miserly. Over time, it evolved to also include the concept of cost-cutting in businesses and organizations. The idiom has since become a common way to describe both personal and professional financial behavior.