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penny-pinch

transitive verb pen·ny-pinch \ ˈpenēˌpinch \

Definition of penny-pinch

: to give out money to in a niggardly manner
  • takes a sinister but fascinating kind of joy in … penny-pinching his own family
  • —James Yaffe
: deprive of funds by petty economy
  • penny-pinched himself out of … millions of dollars
  • —S. N. Behrman

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Origin and Etymology of penny-pinch

back-formation from penny pincher

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