cheap skate

Idioms  

1. A stingy person, as in He's a real cheap skate when it comes to tipping. This idiom combines cheap (for “penurious”) with the slang usage of skate for a contemptible or low individual. It has largely replaced the earlier cheap John. [Slang; late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

You’ll also want something that’s comfortable to hold and pleasant to look at — just because you saved a few bucks compared to the guy next to you doesn’t mean that your phone has to scream “cheap skate” to everyone on the subway that sees it.

From The Verge

Pretty cheap skate, to stand for a thing like that—don’t you think?”

From Project Gutenberg

“You know,” she murmurs, “I hate a cheap skate who won’t treat a girl like a lady.”

From Project Gutenberg

“Maybe you’ve got an idea that I’m a pretty cheap skate, Mr. Wade,” he blurted.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who paid nothing had "Cheap skate!" yelled after them.

From Time Magazine Archive