# penny pincher

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/penny-pincher
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.

## Examples

- My uncle is a real penny pincher with his money.
- She is such a penny pincher that she walks three miles just to avoid paying for the bus.
- Despite his significant wealth, the old man remained a dedicated penny pincher, refusing to replace his worn-out coat for over a decade.

## Origin

From *pinchpenny*, a formation recorded in English since the sixteenth century. The components describe the physical act of gripping a coin between the fingers to prevent its departure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.