cheese-paring

A shopkeeper engages in cheese-paring by carefully trimming the smallest possible slice.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The paring or rind of cheese: Literally, "cheese-paring" refers to the thin strips or scraps cut from the surface of cheese.
   • Something worthless or leftover: In a figurative sense, it denotes trivial, insignificant, or discarded items, often used in the plural form "cheese-parings" to mean leftovers or refuse.

2. Adjective:

   • Miserly or stingy: "Cheese-paring" describes a person or action that is excessively frugal or niggardly, often to the point of being petty or mean-spirited.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The cook threw the cheese-parings into the bin. (The thin scraps of cheese were discarded.)
  • He only offered us the cheese-parings of his time, nothing substantial. (He gave only trivial, leftover attention.)

• Adjective:

  • Her cheese-paring habits made her reluctant to buy even a loaf of bread. (Her stingy nature prevented her from spending money.)
  • The cheese-paring budget left no room for any luxuries. (The extremely tight budget was miserly.)

Advanced Usage

• "cheese-paring economy": a phrase referring to an economic policy or personal practice of extreme cost-cutting, often seen as penny-wise but pound-foolish.

  • The government's cheese-paring economy led to underfunded schools and hospitals. (Excessive frugality harmed essential services.)

• "cheese-paring attitude": a mindset characterized by pettiness and unwillingness to spend even small amounts.

  • His cheese-paring attitude annoyed his friends, who found him tiresome. (His stinginess irritated others.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cheese-parer (n): a person who is excessively thrifty or stingy.

  • He was known as a cheese-parer, always counting pennies. (A miserly individual.)

• Cheese-paringly (adv): in a miserly or stingy manner.

  • She lived cheese-paringly, never treating herself to anything. (She lived with extreme frugality.)

Synonyms

• Stingy (adj): unwilling to give or spend; ungenerous.
• Miserly (adj): of or characteristic of a miser; excessively thrifty.
• Penny-pinching (adj): excessively careful with money; frugal to a fault.
• Scrimping (adj): economizing severely; being sparing.

Related Idioms

• "Cut corners": to do something in the cheapest or easiest way, often sacrificing quality.

  • The company cut corners by using cheese-paring materials. (They saved money by using substandard supplies.)

• "Pinch pennies": to be extremely frugal or miserly.

  • She pinched pennies so tightly that she was accused of cheese-paring. (She was overly thrifty.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Pare down: to reduce something in size or amount, often by cutting away excess.

  • They had to pare down the budget to a cheese-paring level. (They reduced spending drastically.)

• Scrimp on: to spend less than necessary on something.

  • He scrimped on food, adopting a cheese-paring lifestyle. (He economized on essentials.)