tight-fisted
Definition
- Adjective:
- Unwilling to spend money: "tight-fisted" describes a person who is extremely reluctant to part with their money, often to the point of being stingy or miserly.
Usage Examples
- (He was unwilling to spend money for the meal.)
- (The company was reluctant to spend money on its workers.)
- (Her reluctance to spend is extreme.)
Advanced Usage
- "tight-fisted with something": to be unwilling to share or spend a particular resource.
- He is tight-fisted with his time, rarely helping others with their projects. (He is reluctant to give his time.)
- "to be tight-fisted": used as a general description of a person's character.
- The landlord was known to be tight-fisted, refusing to fix broken appliances. (The landlord was stingy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tight-fistedness (noun): the quality of being unwilling to spend money.
- His tight-fistedness caused many arguments with his family. (His stinginess led to conflict.)
- Tightfisted (adj): a variant spelling with the same meaning.
- The tightfisted manager never approved any extra expenses. (The manager was stingy.)
Synonyms
- Stingy: unwilling to give or spend; miserly.
- Miserly: of or characteristic of a miser; extremely stingy.
- Parsimonious: unwilling to spend money; frugal to the point of excess.
- Penny-pinching: careful with money in a way that is excessive.
Antonyms
- Generous: willing to give or share freely.
- Open-handed: generous and giving.
- Lavish: spending or giving freely and extravagantly.
Related Idioms
- Tight as a drum: extremely stingy or unwilling to spend money.
- He's as tight as a drum — he never pays for anyone else's coffee. (He is very stingy.)
- Money-grubbing: excessively concerned with accumulating money.
- Her money-grubbing attitude made her unpopular with friends. (She was overly focused on money.)
Phrasal Verbs