economize
/i:'kɔnəmaiz/ Cách viết khác : (economise) /i:'kɔnəmɑiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (Intransitive):
- To spend money or use resources carefully and sparingly, avoiding waste.
- To reduce one's expenses or consumption.
Verb (Transitive):
- To use something (such as time, money, or energy) in a careful, frugal, and efficient way.
Usage
- Intransitive Verb: Used when the subject is reducing general spending or consumption.
- We need to economize if we want to afford a vacation next year.
- Transitive Verb: Used when the subject is carefully managing a specific resource.
- She learned to economize her energy throughout the long workday.
Examples
- Intransitive Usage:
- During the recession, many families had to economize on groceries.
- The company is economizing by reducing non-essential travel.
- Transitive Usage:
- A good chef knows how to economize ingredients to minimize waste.
- He economizes his time by planning his schedule meticulously.
Advanced Usage
- "to economize on something": To reduce spending or use of a particular thing.
- They are trying to economize on heating costs this winter.
- Used in formal or business contexts to describe prudent financial management.
- The report advised the government to economize and reduce the budget deficit.
Variants and Related Words
- Economizer (noun): A person who economizes, or a device that saves resources (e.g., energy).
- Economical (adjective): Giving good value or service in relation to the resources used; not wasteful.
- This car is very economical on fuel.
- Economy (noun): The careful management of available resources; or a system of production and consumption.
- She practices economy in all her household purchases.
Synonyms
- Save: To keep money or resources for future use.
- Conserve: To protect something, especially an environmental resource, from harm or overuse.
- Scrimp: To be very frugal or sparing, often to the point of hardship.
- Cut costs: To reduce expenses.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Collocations
- Economize on: (As shown in Advanced Usage) To reduce consumption of a specific item.
- We must economize on paper to help the environment.
- Economize by [doing something]: To save money or resources through a specific action.
- They economized by cooking at home instead of eating out.
Related Idioms
- Pinch pennies: To be extremely careful with money, to economize very strictly.
- After losing his job, he had to pinch pennies to get by.
- Cut corners: To reduce costs or effort, sometimes at the expense of quality (can have a negative connotation).
- You shouldn't cut corners on safety equipment to economize.
Verb
- spend sparingly, avoid the waste of
- This move will save money
- The less fortunate will have to economize now
- use cautiously and frugally
- I try to economize my spare time
- conserve your energy for the ascent to the summit