Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals" means to be very frugal or miserly - a humorous exaggeration of someone saving money to the extreme.

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synonyms: tight, cheap

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You’ll hear "Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals" in Southern and Appalachian speech to describe someone extremely tight with money - so frugal they squeeze every last cent.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

You’ll hear "Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals" in Southern and Appalachian speech to describe someone extremely tight with money - so frugal they squeeze every last cent.

Pronunciation

[PINCH a PEN-ny till it SQUEALS] /pɪnʧ ə ˈpɛni tɪl ɪt skwiːlz/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely frugal or miserly (simile)

Mae:

He got plenty of money but won’t spend a dime.

Earl:

That man’ll pinch a penny till it squeals.

★ This saying exaggerates frugality by imagining a penny screaming under pressure. Rural Southerners also say "pinch a nickel till the buffalo bellows" or "squeeze a dime till it cries," showing the same humorous spirit. ★

Origin and Etymology

Variants appear in 19th- and early 20th-century Southern and Midwestern newspapers. The image likely arose as a humorous rural exaggeration of thrift, with "pinch" meaning to squeeze or withhold.

Usage Notes

Still heard in rural Southern/Appalachian speech. Outside the region it’s understood but may sound quaint or colorful. Used jokingly or affectionately about someone who’s careful with money.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: often "pinch a penny ’til it squeals" - with "until" shortened to "’til" in everyday speech.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does it only apply to people?

Mostly, but you can use it jokingly about businesses or governments too ("They’ll pinch a penny till it squeals").

Is it always negative?

Not necessarily - it can be playful, admiring, or critical depending on tone.

Is it still used today?

Yes - especially among older speakers or people wanting a folksy tone for thriftiness.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 22). Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/pinch-a-penny-till-it-squeals
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/pinch-a-penny-till-it-squeals.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Pinch a Penny Till It Squeals." HillbillySlang.com. September 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/pinch-a-penny-till-it-squeals.

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