lickpenny Definition
- 1a person who is unwilling to spend money
- 2a miser
Using lickpenny: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "lickpenny" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He's such a lickpenny that he won't even buy himself a decent meal.
Example
The old man was known in the village as a lickpenny who never gave to charity.
Example
She was accused of being a lickpenny by her friends because she never wanted to go out and spend money.
lickpenny Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with lickpenny
penny-pinching
being excessively frugal or miserly with money
Example
His penny-pinching ways meant that he never went on vacation.
tight-fisted
unwilling to spend money; stingy
Example
The boss was so tight-fisted that he refused to give his employees a raise.
a person who is unwilling to spend money
Example
He's such a cheapskate that he won't even buy a round of drinks for his friends.
Origins of lickpenny
from Middle English 'lyk-peny', meaning 'one who licks the pennies he receives'
Summary: lickpenny in Brief
'Lickpenny' [ˈlɪkˌpɛni] refers to a person who is unwilling to spend money, often to the point of being a miser. Synonyms include 'skinflint' and 'tightwad.' Phrases like 'penny-pinching' and 'tight-fisted' describe similar behavior. 'Lickpenny' comes from Middle English 'lyk-peny,' meaning 'one who licks the pennies he receives.'
