Search
Select the dictionary language
a stingy or miserly person who is reluctant to spend money, especially on others
What is the origin of the term "tight-arse" and how is it used?
"Tight-arse" is British slang that appeared in the mid-20th century, combining "tight," meaning unwilling or restrained, with the crude reference to the anus ("arse") to emphasize extreme stinginess or frugality. The imagery suggests someone so unwilling to part with money that it's physically "tight," turning it into a vivid insult. It is commonly used in informal speech among adults in the U.K., often teasing friends or criticizing someone's miserly behavior. The term is derogatory but usually playful, offensive mostly because of the crude language rather than the concept itself.



























