A cheapskate is a stingy person who buys cheap instead of higher quality or better stuff, even though they might be able to afford the better. Perhaps they are ungenerously trying not to spend much on their friends. Not particularly offensive, and often intended to ridicule¹ in a light hearted manner.

 

Cheapskate指手里有钱却仍然放弃优质货品转而购买廉价物品的“吝啬鬼”。他们可能没什么恶意，只是不愿意在朋友身上花太多钱，有时也是一种轻松的自嘲。

 

The term is a North American origin. Skate began to appear in print in the US at the end of the nineteenth century, almost simultaneously² meaning a worn-out horse, a mean or contemptible³ person, and a second-rate sportsman. Cheap was added early on to refer to a person’s tight-fisted nature rather than any of his other perceived inadequacies.

 

这个词来源于北美。Skate这个说法19世纪末期初现于美国，多指驽马、刻薄卑鄙的人，或者二流的运动员。前面加上cheap则表示某人“手紧”的本性，与他后天形成的缺点无关。

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