Imputation of parsimony
/ɪmˌpjuːteɪʃən əv pɑːrˈsɪməni/
noun phraseC2
Definition
"Imputation" means saying or suggesting that someone has a particular quality, often negative. "Parsimony" means being very careful with money or resources, sometimes too much, like being cheap. Together, this phrase means saying that someone is stingy or unwilling to spend.
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See It in Action
The act of accusing someone of being stingy or too careful with money
- •The manager faced an imputation of parsimony when employees complained about low budgets.
- •She denied the imputation of parsimony, saying she only wanted to spend wisely.
- •The politician rejected the imputation of parsimony in his campaign spending.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "imputation" like "blame" or "accuse," but in a formal way, and "parsimony" like "cheapness" or "saving money."
- ✓Picture someone counting every coin carefully and not wanting to buy anything extra.
- ✓It's the feeling when a friend says you never want to pay for anything, suggesting you are too careful with money.
- ✓Sounds like "im-PUTE-ation of PAR-si-mony" → Imagine putting a label on someone that says "too careful with money."
- ✓Think of Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol," who is famous for being very careful and not spending money.
- ✓NOT like "generosity" (giving freely), "imputation of parsimony" suggests the opposite: being too careful or cheap.
- ✓NOT like "saving" (which can be good), "parsimony" often feels negative, like refusing to spend even when needed.
Try Other Words
- •Accusation of stinginess: saying someone is too cheap (Use in informal or everyday speech)
- •Charge of frugality: formal way to say someone is accused of being very careful with money (Use when the carefulness might be seen positively or neutrally)
- •Claim of miserliness: saying someone is very cheap in a negative way (Use when the meaning is strongly negative)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "imputation" (from Latin "imputare" = to charge or blame) + "parsimony" (from Latin "parsimonia" = thriftiness or saving)
- •Etymology: "Imputation" means assigning a quality, often blame; "parsimony" means extreme carefulness with money
- •Historical development: "Imputation" used in legal and moral contexts to mean blaming someone; "parsimony" has long described careful spending, sometimes too much
- •Modern usage: The phrase is used mostly in formal or academic contexts to say someone is accused of being too cheap or saving too much
Reflect & Connect
•How does being accused of parsimony affect a person's reputation or relationships?
•Can parsimony ever be a positive quality, or is it always negative when imputed?
Fill in the blanks
1.When the company cut costs, some employees made an imputation of parsimony ___ the new manager's decisions.
2.The imputation of parsimony often makes people feel ___ or misunderstood about their spending habits.
3.Unlike generosity, parsimony is usually seen as ___, especially when imputed by others.
4.The phrase "imputation of parsimony" means someone ___ you of being too careful with money.
5.When a leader faces imputation of parsimony, it may ___ trust between them and their team.
6.She defended her budget choices, rejecting the imputation of parsimony as unfair ___.
7.An imputation of parsimony can cause ___ in groups, especially when money is tight.