Tight-fisted describes a person who will not spend money, or who spends as little as possible. The picture inside the word is a hand closed hard around coins so that nothing can fall out.

Tight-fisted tight-fisted describes形容的是 a person一個人 who will not spend money不肯花錢，or who spends as little as possible或者能省則省。The picture inside the word這個字裡的畫面 is是 a hand closed hard around coins一隻手緊緊握住硬幣，so that nothing can fall out好讓一分錢都掉不出來。

It is not a neutral word — when you call someone tight-fisted, you are saying you disapprove. Compare it with 'careful with money' or 'thrifty', which sound like praise, and with 'economical', which sounds like a sensible choice. Tight-fisted sounds like a complaint.

It這個字 is not a neutral word不是中性的字——when you call someone tight-fisted當你說某人tight-fisted，you are saying you disapprove你其實是在表達不贊同。Compare it with拿它跟 'careful with money' or 'thrifty''careful with money'或'thrifty'比較，which sound like praise這兩個聽起來像是稱讚，and with 'economical'再跟'economical'比較，which sounds like a sensible choice這個聽起來像是明智的選擇。Tight-fisted tight-fisted sounds like a complaint聽起來像是在抱怨。

People use it about relatives who never pay for dinner, about a boss who gives tiny pay rises, about a government that will not spend on schools.

People use it人們會用這個字 about relatives who never pay for dinner形容從來不付飯錢的親戚，about a boss who gives tiny pay rises形容加薪加得很少的老闆，about a government that will not spend on schools形容不願意花錢在學校上的政府。

It is usually said about somebody else, not about yourself — though people do say it about themselves as a small joke.

It這個字 is usually said about somebody else通常是用來說別人，not about yourself而不是說自己——though不過 people do say it about themselves人們確實會這樣說自己 as a small joke當作一個小玩笑。

In everyday speech it is common and not rude enough to shock; it is informal but you would still see it in a newspaper. You can also just say 'tight' on its own with the same meaning ('He's so tight'), which is even more casual.

In everyday speech在日常對話裡，it is common這個字很常見 and not rude enough to shock也不會粗魯到讓人吃驚；it is informal它是非正式的，but但 you would still see it in a newspaper你還是會在報紙上看到它。You can also just say 'tight' on its own你也可以直接說'tight'就好 with the same meaning意思一樣 ('He's so tight')（'He's so tight'）「他很小氣」，which is even more casual這樣講更隨性。

Note that the word is about *unwillingness*, not about being poor: a very rich person can be tight-fisted, and that is exactly the situation where people use it most.

Note that要注意 the word這個字 is about *unwillingness*講的是「不願意」，not about being poor而不是「窮」：a very rich person一個很有錢的人 can be tight-fisted也可以是tight-fisted，and而且 that is exactly the situation這正是 where people use it most人們最常這樣用這個字的情況。