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

1. a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend