Idiom
wouldn't shout if a shark bit him
Meaning
To be frugal or miserly.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He is so cheap that he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“She never tips the waiter because she wouldn't shout if a shark bit her.”
“That man is so stingy he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“Even when his friends were hungry, he refused to buy a round of drinks; he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“My neighbor refuses to fix his broken fence because he is so cheap he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“You should not expect a birthday gift from the boss since everyone knows he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“Despite his vast wealth, the old man remained notoriously stingy, acting as if he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him whenever the check arrived at dinner.”
Examples
simple
“He is so cheap that he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“She never tips the waiter because she wouldn't shout if a shark bit her.”
“That man is so stingy he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
contextual
“Even when his friends were hungry, he refused to buy a round of drinks; he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“My neighbor refuses to fix his broken fence because he is so cheap he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
“You should not expect a birthday gift from the boss since everyone knows he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.”
complex
“Despite his vast wealth, the old man remained notoriously stingy, acting as if he wouldn't shout if a shark bit him whenever the check arrived at dinner.”
Origin
The idiom relies on the dual utility of the verb shout, which denotes both the act of vocalising at volume and the social obligation of purchasing a round of drinks. It suggests a level of parsimony so profound that the individual in question would remain silent during a fatal aquatic encounter to avoid the accidental suggestion of a social invitation.
Key words
Related idioms
- Updated