pinch pennies

[/pɪntʃ ˈpɛniz/]

verb phrase

ser avarento; economizar ao máximo

1. to spend money very carefully and reluctantly; to be stingy or miserly

She pinches pennies by buying only generic brands at the grocery store.

Ela economiza ao máximo comprando apenas marcas genéricas no supermercado.

2. to live frugally or on a very tight budget

After losing his job, he had to pinch pennies until he found new employment.

Depois de perder seu emprego, ele precisou economizar muito até encontrar um novo trabalho.

NYC Slang

tighten the purse strings; watch your ducats

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

apertar o cinto; economizar; ser sovina

Most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese

Rio de Janeiro

ser mão de vaca; apertar a bolsa

Colloquial expression more common in Rio

São Paulo

economizar ao máximo; ser avarento

Standard usage in São Paulo region

Portugal

contar tostões; poupar nos cêntimos

Less common in Portuguese Portuguese; more direct translation preferred

tighten one's belt

watch every penny

count one's pennies

live on a shoestring

make do with less

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