pinch pennies

pinch Pen·nie

P p

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [pinch pen-ee]
- /pɪntʃ ˈpɛn i/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [pinch pen-ee]
- /pɪntʃ ˈpɛn i/

Definitions of pinch pennies words

verb with object pinch pennies to squeeze or compress between the finger and thumb, the teeth, the jaws of an instrument, or the like. 1
verb with object pinch pennies to constrict or squeeze painfully, as a tight shoe does. 1
verb with object pinch pennies to cramp within narrow bounds or quarters: The crowd pinched him into a corner. 1
verb with object pinch pennies to render (the face, body, etc.) unnaturally constricted or drawn, as pain or distress does: Years of hardship had pinched her countenance beyond recognition. 1
verb with object pinch pennies to affect with sharp discomfort or distress, as cold, hunger, or need does. 1
verb with object pinch pennies to straiten in means or circumstances: The depression pinched them. 1

See all 35 definitions of pinch pennies

Information block about the term

Origin of pinch pennies

First appearance:

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English pinchen < Anglo-French *pinchier (equivalent to Old French pincier, Spanish pinchar) < Vulgar Latin *pīnctiāre, variant of *pūnctiāre to prick (cf. pique1)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Pinch pennies

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Pinch pennies

pinch pennies popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

pinch pennies usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for pinch pennies

verb pinch pennies

cut corners — to do something in the easiest and shortest way, esp at the expense of high standards
economize — to practice economy; avoid waste or extravagance.
lay aside — to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
lay away — to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
make ends meet — the last part or extremity, lengthwise, of anything that is longer than it is wide or broad: the end of a street; the end of a rope.

All 6 Synonyms of pinch pennies

Matching words

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