scrooge
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who is extremely stingy and selfish, especially with money; a miser. The term often implies not just thriftiness but a lack of generosity and a mean-spirited attitude towards the needs or happiness of others.
Usage
The word "Scrooge" is almost always used as a proper noun to describe a person's character, comparing them to the famous literary character. It is typically used in a critical or disapproving way. * He's such a Scrooge; he never wants to contribute to office birthday gifts. * Don't be a Scrooge—it's the holidays, a little generosity is in order.
Examples
- My landlord is a real Scrooge; he won't even fix the broken heater.
- She called him a Scrooge for refusing to donate to the charity drive.
- The company's Scrooge-like policies made it an unpopular place to work.
Advanced Usage
- Scrooge mentality: A mindset characterized by extreme frugality and a lack of generosity.
- His Scrooge mentality prevents him from seeing the value in community investment.
- To pull a Scrooge: To act in a miserly or selfish manner, especially in a situation where generosity is expected.
- He really pulled a Scrooge by bringing a cheap bottle of wine to the dinner party.
Variants and Related Words
- Scroogelike (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of Scrooge.
- His Scroogelike behavior during the fundraiser was embarrassing.
- Ebenezer Scrooge: The full name of the character from Charles Dickens's , from which the common noun originates.
Synonyms
- Miser: A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
- Skinflint: A person who is excessively unwilling to spend money.
- Tightwad (informal): A person who is very reluctant to spend money.
- Cheapskate (informal, derogatory): A person who is unwilling to spend money.
Idioms and Phrases
- A regular Scrooge: Used to emphasize that someone perfectly fits the description of being miserly.
- Before the charity visit changed his perspective, he was a regular Scrooge.
- Bah, humbug!: This is the famous catchphrase of Ebenezer Scrooge, expressing cynical disdain, especially for Christmas cheer. It is sometimes used independently to channel a "Scrooge-like" attitude.
- When everyone started singing carols, he just muttered, "Bah, humbug!"
Noun
- a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend