Penny Pincher - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
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Describe someone who saves money wisely by using the idiom ‘Penny Pincher’ and incorporate it in your answers for the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. Attempt the exercise and check out the scenarios when to use the idiom to sound like a native.
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The idiom ‘Penny Pincher’ describes a person who is very careful, at times even overly careful, with their finances. Using such idioms in your IELTS Speaking and Writing sections will impart nuance and personality into your ideas. This would let you showcase a higher level of language proficiency skills in the IELTS Exam.
So, why wait? Let’s check out how you can describe somebody who thinks about the idea of spending anything, even for a small change.
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What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘Penny Pincher’?
To get a higher IELTS Band Score, it is not about grammar and fluency but more about the quality of the vocabulary words. Remember that memorizing a long list of words is far from actual mastery since you also need to learn about their appropriate usage in sentences. With the knowledge of when, where, and how to use that word, you can express it with precision, intensity, and depth.
Topic |
Description . |
Penny Pincher |
Idiom |
Definition |
Miserly. |
Synonyms |
Miser, Thrifty person |
Origin |
The idiom seems to have originated in the 19th century. This idiom is related to the idiom called “A penny-a-liner” which was in use in 1834. It was to be used to refer to a writer for a periodical or magazine. In those days, publishers wanted to pay less and earn more profits. So they chose writers who wrote less content because they can be paid less. The writers were also tactful and restricted themselves to limited content in order to write regularly for the publisher. The publishers were called penny pinchers. It also seems to be related to the idiom “penny dreadful”. Penny dreadful referred to cheap content. This content did not require much promotion and sold easily. So publishers minted money. |
Examples |
His dad was a penny pincher and gave him very less money to spend in the excursion As he was a penny pincher, he did not spend money on interior decoration.
One must be careful while performing necromancy. If not properly done, the spirits of the dead can wreak havoc in your life. Communing with the spirits, especially by necromancy, is a very important aspect of tribal life in the forest. To become a maester of the citadel, one must not only master history, science, healing, and philosophy. One also needs to become proficient in black magic and necromancy. |
Want to learn IELTS Speaking IDIOMS for BAND 9? Let’s check out the video below!
When to Use Penny Pincher in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?
The choice of IELTS Vocabulary word will help add finer details to your ideas, and will demonstrate your command of the language. Remember that the wrong use of such advanced words as ‘Penny Pincher’ can weaken your argument. Therefore, it is important not only to study their meanings but also to practice using them properly in context. Check out the scenarios given below, which would make you understand how to incorporate the word.
- Scenario 1:
Friend 1: This house is such a shame to our colony. Can’t the owner get it painted? Is he so poor? Friend 2: My God! He is a retired government official. Friend 1: Then why can’t he paint the house ? Friend 2: He is a penny pincher. |
- Scenario 2:
Friend 1: Can’t you buy a new basket to carry vegetables? It looks pathetic. Friend 2: It is still in good condition. I will use it as long as I can. Friend 1: You’re such a penny pincher. |
Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.
Exercise on Penny Pincher for IELTS Speaking & Writing
The exercise on the idiom ‘Penny Pincher’ will make you use the word in different striking ways. With the exercise given below, you would understand the natural use of the word, which will help you use it correctly and confidently in both the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections.
Match the Sentences to the Correct Expression
Expressions to Use:
- Penny Pincher
- Throw Money Down the Drain
- Tighten One’s Belt
- Big Shot
- Cost an Arm and a Leg
1 Some say she is a real ________ because she avoids spending unless she really has to and haggles for everything.
2 Buying a luxury car at this moment would be like ________, given his financial circumstances.
3 After drifting from his job, he had to ________ and curb his monthly expenditure.
4 It may be assumed that a superbly nice designer bag will just ________ for the buying if at all it is bought.
5 After the success of his start-up, he really built quite a ________ in the business world.
Answer to the Exercise on Penny Pincher for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Answers go for review! Look into the correct responses, think about your mistakes, and try to identify the reasons behind your assumptions so that you may apply correct strategies to develop your skills and bring up your performance in IELTS.
- Penny Pincher
- Throw Money Down the Drain
- Tighten One’s Belt
- Cost an Arm and a Leg
- Big Shot
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Mastering idioms can give a delightful flair to your IELTS Speaking & Writing answers. By grasping the meaning and learning how to use it naturally will help you to communicate with confidence. So, start using the idiom on many different occasions in your daily life so that you would see your answers stand out during the exam!
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