Scrooge
/ˈskruːdʒ/
nounB2
Definition
A scrooge is someone who does not like to spend money, even when it is needed or helpful. This person often tries to save money in a way that seems unfair or mean to others. The word comes from a famous character in a story who was very greedy and unhappy about giving money or gifts.
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See It in Action
A person who is very unwilling to spend money
- •My uncle is a scrooge; he never buys gifts for anyone.
- •Don’t be such a scrooge—let’s go out for dinner!
- •She acted like a scrooge when it came to tipping the waiter.
Someone who is selfish or mean, especially about money
- •The boss was a scrooge and refused to give bonuses this year.
- •Don’t be a scrooge with your friends; sharing is important.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "scrooge" like "cheap" or "stingy," but stronger—someone who almost never wants to spend money, even for good reasons
- ✓Picture a person holding tightly to a small bag of coins, afraid to let go or share with others
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says "No" to buying something nice, even if they can afford it, making others feel sad or disappointed
- ✓Sounds like "screw" + "judge" → imagine someone who "screws" (tightens) their money and "judges" others for spending
- ✓Remember Ebenezer Scrooge from the story "A Christmas Carol," a man who hated Christmas and money spending until he changed
- ✓NOT like "generous" (who likes to give and share), a scrooge is the opposite—very careful and unhappy about giving money
- ✓NOT like "frugal" (careful with money in a good way), a scrooge is more selfish and mean about money
- ✓NOT like "poor" (not having money), a scrooge often has money but does not want to use it
Try Other Words
- •Miser: a person who hoards money and spends as little as possible (Use when the person is very greedy and unhappy about spending money)
- •Stingy: unwilling to give or spend money (Use when describing someone who is not generous)
- •Tightwad: informal word for a person who does not like to spend money (Use in casual conversation)
- •Penny-pincher: someone who tries to save money in every small way (Use when focusing on small, careful saving)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear parts—it's a proper name turned common noun)
- •Etymology: From the name Ebenezer Scrooge, a character in Charles Dickens’ 1843 book "A Christmas Carol"
- •Historical development: The character was known for being very greedy and unhappy about spending money; his name became a word for stingy people
- •Modern usage: Used to describe anyone who is very unwilling to spend money or share, often in a negative or playful way
Reflect & Connect
•Can being a scrooge sometimes be a good thing? When might saving money be important?
•How does calling someone a scrooge affect your feelings about them? Does it change how you think about money?
Fill in the blanks
1.A scrooge refuses to spend money even when it is ___ to help others or improve a situation.
2.When someone acts like a scrooge, they often make others feel ___ or unimportant.
3.Unlike a generous person, a scrooge is ___ to share or give money.
4.The phrase "don’t be a scrooge" is often used to ___ someone to be more open with money or gifts.
5.A scrooge usually ___ money tightly and avoids buying things that seem unnecessary.
6.If a boss is a scrooge, employees might expect ___ or no extra rewards.
7.When someone is called a scrooge, we can infer they are ___ about money, not poor or unable to pay.