scrimp

[skrimp]

verb (used without object)

1. to be sparing or frugal; economize (often followed byon ).

   They scrimped and saved for everything they have. He spends most of his money on clothes, and scrimps on food.

   Synonyms: scrape, save, stint, skimp

verb (used with object)

1. to be sparing or restrictive of or in; limit severely.

   to scrimp food.

2. to keep on short allowance; provide sparingly for.

   to scrimp their elderly parents.

scrimp

/ skrɪmp /

verb

1. to be very economical or sparing in the use (of) (esp in the phrase scrimp and save )

2. (tr) to treat meanly

   he is scrimping his children

3. (tr) to cut too small

adjective

1. a less common word for scant

Other Word Forms

• unscrimped adjective
• scrimpily adverb
• scrimpiness noun
• scrimpy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrimp¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from Scandinavian; compare Swedish skrympa, Norwegian, Danish skrumpe (originally from an unattested skrimpa, ) “to shrivel,” cognate with Middle High German schrimpfen “to contract”; shrimp

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrimp¹

C18: Scottish, origin unknown

Example Sentences

Shoppers are not necessarily scrimping on their holiday budgets, but amid economic uncertainty and a cooling labor market, they’re more focused on scoring the best deals, data suggest.

Read more on MarketWatch

My mom and dad were extremely frugal; they scrimped and saved.

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Perhaps they might think of their parents who weren’t able to have a “maximum level of enjoyment” while they scrimped and saved to come up with $86,926 for tuition and fees each year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She meets and marries fellow student Jen Chao-Pe, and together they move into a dilapidated walk-up in Washington Heights, where Agnes learns to scrimp and save and paint her own walls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For years, the Hillsborough families had had to scrimp, save, and fundraise to pay for lawyers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cut back 
• skimp