Skimp

/skɪmp/

Meaning & Definition

noun

An act of skimping; a deficiency or lack due to skimping.

His work was a real skimp, with several key elements missing.

verb

To provide or use less of something than is necessary or expected; to economize on or be stingy with.

She decided to skimp on the decorations for the party to save money.

To do something with minimal effort or attention; to perform in a half-hearted or careless manner.

You can't skimp on your studies if you want to pass the exam.

To omit or neglect to include something; to leave out.

Don't skimp on the details in your report; they are important for clarity.

Origin uncertain, possibly from the early 19th century.

skimp on:

to do something with less than what is needed or expected

don't skimp:

a warning to not be stingy or hold back, especially in spending money

To skimp on something, often used informally to imply laziness or lack of effort.

He totally skimped on studying for the test.

Used in a derogatory sense to describe someone who is cheap or unwilling to spend.

Don't be so skimp; just buy the good stuff already!