Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Skimp for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: To save by giving too little — there is a precise word for that false economy.
Narrator: Skimp. Phonetically: SKIMP. IPA: /skɪmp/.
Narrator: It is a verb. To skimp means to spend less, or use less, than is really needed.
Narrator: To skimp on materials. To skimp on detail. To skimp on the budget.
Narrator: It carries a clear note of disapproval — skimping usually leads to a poor result.
Narrator: The word likely arose in the eighteenth century, possibly linked to scrimp, meaning to be sparing.
Narrator: It may also relate to the older sense of scant — barely enough, meagre.
Narrator: Over time, skimp settled firmly on the idea of cutting corners to save money or effort.
Narrator: It is most often followed by on — to skimp on something specific.
Narrator: Don't skimp on quality. Never skimp on safety. The advice is always cautionary.
Narrator: Register: informal to neutral — common in everyday speech, advice, and reviews.
Narrator: Skimp is the word that warns us: saving too much, too soon, often costs more later.
Speaker A: We're redecorating, and I'm tempted to skimp on the paint to save money.
Speaker B: I'd be careful there — if you skimp on paint, you'll often need two extra coats anyway.
Speaker A: True. Skimping ends up costing more in the long run, doesn't it?
Speaker B: Exactly. That's the whole spirit of the word — a false economy.
Speaker A: My builder said never skimp on the foundations or the waterproofing.
Speaker B: Wise man. Those are the two things you really shouldn't skimp on.
Speaker A: What's the difference between skimp and economise?
Speaker B: Economise is neutral — it means to spend sensibly. Skimp implies you've cut too far and quality suffers.
Speaker A: So I can economise wisely, but if I skimp, I've gone too far.
Speaker B: Precisely. Economise is good practice. Skimp is a warning.
Speaker A: And what about scrimp?
Speaker B: Scrimp means to be very frugal, often out of necessity. Scrimp and save go together. Skimp is more about under-providing.
Speaker A: Any common mistake?
Speaker B: Forgetting the on. You skimp on something — not just skimp something. The preposition matters.
Speaker B: Today we use skimp in AI development prompts — and it's brilliant for setting quality guardrails.
Speaker B: Skimp tells the AI exactly what NOT to cut corners on. It's a quality instruction.
Speaker B: First — UI design.
Speaker B: Prompt one.
Speaker B: Don't skimp on validation tells the AI to be thorough exactly where it matters most.
Speaker A: It targets the corner most developers cut. Memorable and precise.
Speaker B: Database design now.
Speaker B: Prompt two.
Speaker A: Don't skimp on security. That single phrase raises the whole standard of the schema.
Speaker B: Full application prompt.
Speaker B: Prompt three.
Speaker A: Don't skimp on error handling — that's exactly where flaky apps fall apart.
Speaker B: HR system prompt.
Speaker B: Prompt four.
Speaker A: Don't skimp on the audit trail. Compliance teams would love that instruction.
Speaker B: Accounting tool prompt.
Speaker B: Prompt five.
Speaker A: Don't skimp on accuracy — vital for anything touching money. Clear and strong.
Speaker B: Final — accessibility.
Speaker B: Prompt six.
Speaker A: Don't skimp on accessibility — a phrase that makes the AI take it seriously from the start.
Speaker B: Use skimp in prompts to name the corner that must never be cut. It turns a wish into a firm guardrail.
Skimp — meaning in Arabic & definition More S courses GL Dictionary