close-fisted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I finally learned that an officer was considered by many other officers as a little off color if he was close-fisted and tried to save money out of his pay.

From Little Pills, An Army Story Being Some Experiences of a United States Army Medical Officer on the Frontier Nearly a Half Century Ago by McKay, Robert Henderson

He is accus'd of being close-fisted, and of dissuading the Elector from giving Gratuities; but 'tis agreed that he is very charitable to the Poor.

From The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume I Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts. by P?llnitz, Karl Ludwig von

His relative was surly and close-fisted, and, as we have said, had no great love for him; moreover, he had more than hinted of late that he preferred his room to his company.

From Forging the Blades A Tale of the Zulu Rebellion by Mitford, Bertram

Those lacking money to appear with fitting magnificence had little aid to expect from royalty; the shower of gold did not begin to fall until later, and Louis XIV. even passed for being close-fisted.

From Louis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle 1652-1693 by Barine, Arvede

Mr. Bumpkin looked for a few moments without speaking, and then said: “He wur allays a close-fisted un, and I should reckon have a goodish bit o’ property.”

From The Humourous Story of Farmer Bumpkin's Lawsuit by Harris, Richard