AEE 2402: Should You Call Someone Cheap in English?

Summary

All Ears English Podcast – Episode AEE 2402: Should You Call Someone Cheap in English?

Release Date: May 5, 2025

In Episode 2402 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsey McMahon and Aubrey Carter explore the intricacies of describing someone's spending habits in American English. Focusing on whether it's appropriate to label someone as "cheap," the episode offers valuable insights for intermediate to advanced English learners aiming to navigate the subtleties of English vocabulary and cultural norms surrounding money.

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Introduction: Setting the Scene

The episode kicks off with a warm welcome from Lindsey McMahon, highlighting the podcast's mission to help listeners connect through language rather than striving for perfection.

[00:00] Aubrey Carter: "This is an Allers English podcast, episode 2402. Should you call someone cheap in English?"

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Segment 1: Savers vs. Spenders

The conversation begins with Lindsey and Aubrey discussing their personal spending habits, distinguishing between saving and spending.

[01:39] Lindsey McMahon: "Hey there, Aubry. How are you today?"

[01:41] Aubrey Carter: "I'm great. Lindsay, question for you. Are you a saver or a spender?"

[01:47] Lindsey McMahon: "I'm not really much of a spender. Like, I don't go shopping, I don't buy clothes. So I end up just kind of saving because I'm not really that interested in buying stuff. But I will spend money on experiences, right?"

[02:00] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah, right. It depends on what it is. I'm not a shopper, so I think often when people think about this question, saver, spender, we think about shopping. Like, do I buy frivolously? But when it comes to travel or maybe like dining, sometimes I do like to go to a nice restaurant. And then maybe I am more of a spender than a saver."

Key Takeaway: Personal spending habits can vary based on context, such as shopping versus investing in experiences like dining out or traveling.

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Segment 2: Defining Key Terms – Cheap, Frugal, Thrifty

The hosts delve into defining crucial terms that describe spending behaviors, starting with "cheap."

[04:25] Aubrey Carter: "So, first is the word cheap, which mean there are different meanings. Meanings. Right. If you're describing a thing as cheap, it means inexpensive. That's not what we're talking about today. We're talking about when you describe a person as cheap, which means stingy, miserly. These are also words. They don't like to spend money, often at the risk of looking bad. Right. Of looking. Losing face is what we will say sometimes. This is an idiom. This. It's very. Has a very negative connotation. I would not want someone to call me cheap. What about you, Lindsay?"

[04:59] Lindsey McMahon: "Absolutely not. You want to avoid that at all costs. I mean, I know that within my partner's social circle, my partner's Sister had a friend, and somehow this guy's name was. Let's call him Dan. It's not his real name, but he got the label Cheap Dan."

[07:32] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah, we did Frugal. Right. I shared this. Very economical. But the next one is thrifty. What does thrifty mean, Lindsay?"

[07:40] Lindsey McMahon: "Well, it's the name of a rental car company that I can think of. But in an ice cream place. There are thrifty ice cream places in Mexico. All over the place."

[07:47] Aubrey Carter: "But in the context we're discussing, thrifty means using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. So someone who shops at thrift stores might be described as thrifty."

Key Definitions:

• Cheap: Describes a person as stingy or miserly, carrying a negative connotation.
• Frugal: Being economical and careful with money without the negative stigma.
• Thrifty: Using resources wisely and avoiding waste, often associated with resourcefulness.

[06:58] Lindsey McMahon: "I love it. So did we got. We got that sample sentence. Are we ready for number two? Frugal. Aubrey."

[08:45] Aubrey Carter: "And it was lost with me because my mom taught me how to mend. How to sew. I can sew. I can make clothing. I can use a sewing machine. But I have not passed that on to my children. I don't necessarily have the patience. And they have no interest. So they now are probably not going to mend. They can, like, stitch a little hole, but most of the time they're just going to get rid of it."

[08:00] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah. Right. So if you shop at thrift stores, someone might say you're thrifty. Right. You don't mind. Thrifting is the verb. Like you are willing to try and repurpose clothing or other items rather than just throwing it away and buying new."

Key Insights: While "cheap" carries a negative tone, "frugal" and "thrifty" are more positive, highlighting careful and resourceful use of money without the stigma of being stingy.

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Segment 3: The Opposite of "Cheap"

The quest to find a precise opposite for "cheap" reveals complexities, as no single word perfectly counters its negative connotation.

[09:23] Lindsey McMahon: "Right, Right. So, Aubrey, there you Know what would you say? Then I'll just ask you the question, what's the opposite of cheap?"

[09:30] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah. So this was really interesting. Students in open conversation club asked this and I had to think about it a second and we were googling and online the results you will get will say generous, liberal, charitable, bountiful, open handed. All of these adjectives. If you ask, you know, what is the opposite of cheap? None of these are correct because the word cheap has such a negative connotation of being stingy. And there really isn't a word that means the opposite of that. We would just say not cheap. Is he cheap? No, he's not cheap. Right. And so it's interesting because this does happen in English and in every language that sometimes there isn't a really direct opposite. Especially for something that has a connotation like this. Negative connotation. Sometimes the opposite is just not that whatever it is not something."

[10:17] Lindsey McMahon: "Sometimes that's true. I mean the word generous is, is close, but it doesn't necessarily mean exactly the opposite. Right, but what are some sample sentences here, Aubrey?"

[10:25] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah, so for example, you know, he's not cheap, he always pays for his meal when we go out. Or they're not cheap, they always tip generously. But it's interesting because I agree, generous is similar. Right. That means to give more of something than is necessary or expected, time, money. So the opposite of like someone who doesn't tip servers could be called cheap. And then maybe someone who does tip a lot would be called generous. But this can exist in the same person. Someone that you might call cheap could be very generous in other ways."

[11:01] Lindsey McMahon: "So that's why, I mean, humans are not simple. If I've learned anything in the last few years, yes, people are extremely contradicting of themselves in their actions. Everyone is. And we all have our weird contradictions and idiosyncrasies. Right. So that is absolutely true. But you might just use it, talk about the sit itself like he's a good tipper. Right. In that exact situation you might say he's not cheap, he's a good tipper."

[11:29] Aubrey Carter: "Right, exactly right. But often, like I think it's important to, to think about this, that when you are looking for opposites in English, you are going to get, you know, if you look at the thesaurus, you look at all of these adjectives, they all will have a specific meaning, Right? They all have these slightly different meanings and you can't just assume that they all mean the exact opposite because so many words have these implications, have these Connotations. So if you call someone cheap, that's actually quite rude. And, and if it's true, okay. But if not, you could really. I would hate to be called cheap."

Key Insight: Finding a direct opposite for "cheap" is challenging due to its negative connotation. Words like "generous" come close in specific contexts but do not function as perfect antonyms.

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Segment 4: Practical Role Play

To solidify understanding, Lindsey and Aubrey engage in a role-playing exercise, demonstrating how to use the discussed vocabulary naturally in conversation.

[15:16] Aubrey Carter: "All right. You and I are discussing our friends spending habits in this role play. I'll start."

[15:22] Aubrey Carter: "I don't want to call Mark cheap, but I think he's pretty loath to spend his money."

[15:27] Lindsey McMahon: "Yeah, I get that impression. I'm frugal, but I try not to be cheap."

[15:31] Aubrey Carter: "Same. Especially when it comes to clothes. I've always been thrifty. Travel too. I try to find budget flights and hotels."

[15:37] Lindsey McMahon: "You're a generous person. You'd pay every time we go to lunch. If I let you."

[16:35] Lindsey McMahon: "You want to express that in some way."

[16:53] Lindsey McMahon: "Right? Exactly, exactly. And then use the word thrifty. Say same. Especially when it comes to clothes. I've always been thrifty. Right, Thrifty, meaning you've always been. It's very similar to frugal. Right. Pretty much the same thing."

Key Takeaway: Practical application through role play helps listeners grasp how to weave these terms into everyday conversations seamlessly.

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Segment 5: Cultural Insights on Discussing Money

The hosts touch upon cultural norms in American society regarding conversations about money, highlighting the balance between openness and respect for privacy.

[18:12] Aubrey Carter: "Right, exactly right. There are certain subjects we avoid and certain vocabulary we avoid. Right. It's interesting. Certain subjects we really stay away from."

[18:20] Lindsey McMahon: "But this is a perfectly viable conversation. So when we say these are the four topics, you know, money, sex, religion, politics. That's not necessarily true. We have to look at the nuances of how we talk about money."

[18:33] Aubrey Carter: "Right, exactly right. We might talk about a friend that's cheap, but we certainly, the person we're telling that to, we certainly wouldn't ask them, like, how much they make. Like, there are certain things that are so taboo that we would avoid asking."

Key Insight: While discussing money is acceptable, it requires careful navigation to respect privacy and avoid insensitive topics.

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Conclusion: Emphasizing Connection Over Perfection

Lindsey and Aubrey conclude the episode by reinforcing the importance of choosing words thoughtfully to foster positive connections. They discourage the use of the term "cheap" due to its negative implications and advocate for more precise language to describe spending habits.

[19:14] Lindsey McMahon: "Yeah, I love it. Hey guys, if you love our style of looking for human connection in every language point, how can you connect in any English speaking situation. Then hit the follow button right here on the show so you don't miss a single episode."

[19:28] Aubrey Carter: "Yes. Absolutely. Awesome. Fun episode today, Lindsay."

[19:35] Lindsey McMahon: "Take care. Bye bye. Thanks for listening. To all ears. English."

Key Takeaway: Focus on meaningful connections and respectful language choices enhances communication and fosters better relationships.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [04:25] Aubrey Carter: "If you're describing a person as cheap, which means stingy, miserly... has a very negative connotation."
• [07:40] Lindsey McMahon: "It's using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully."
• [09:30] Aubrey Carter: "None of these are correct because the word cheap has such a negative connotation of being stingy."
• [15:22] Aubrey Carter: "I don't want to call Mark cheap, but I think he's pretty loath to spend his money."
• [18:20] Lindsey McMahon: "So we have to look at the nuances of how we talk about money."

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Key Vocabulary Introduced

1. Cheap: Describing someone as unwilling to spend money, often perceived negatively.
2. Frugal: Economical and cautious in spending money, with a positive or neutral connotation.
3. Thrifty: Resourceful in managing money and resources, avoiding wastefulness.
4. Miserly: Similar to "cheap," indicating extreme reluctance to spend money.
5. Generous: Willing to give more of something than necessary or expected, often used as a positive trait.
6. Lavish: Spending money freely and extravagantly, not a direct opposite of "cheap" but related in context.

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Practical Application Tips

• Avoid Using "Cheap": Given its negative connotation, opt for more neutral or positive terms like "frugal" or "generous" when describing spending behaviors.

• Context Matters: Use precise vocabulary based on the context. For instance, "generous" can describe someone who tips well, while "frugal" might describe careful budgeting.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of cultural norms when discussing money to maintain respect and avoid discomfort.

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Final Thoughts

Episode AEE 2402 offers a comprehensive exploration of how to discuss spending habits in English without falling into negative stereotypes. By understanding and appropriately using terms like "frugal," "thrifty," and "generous," listeners can enhance their English communication skills and navigate social conversations about money with confidence and cultural awareness.

Join Lindsey and Aubrey in future episodes to continue building your American English fluency with a focus on meaningful connections. Subscribe to the All Ears English Podcast to never miss an insightful discussion!

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Transcript

[Aubrey Carter]

This is an Allers English podcast, episode 2402. Should you call someone cheap in English?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz, and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe have you heard that money is a taboo topic in English? Sometimes it is. But we do talk about money in certain, certain ways today. Get six new vocabulary terms and learn what we do say about our spending habits.

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[Lindsey McMahon]

Hey there, Aubry. How are you today?

[Aubrey Carter]

I'm great. Lindsay, question for you. Are you a saver or a spender?

[Lindsey McMahon]

I'm not really much of a spender. Like, I don't go shopping, I don't buy clothes. So I end up just kind of saving because I'm not really that interested in buying stuff. But I will spend money on experiences, right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, right. It depends on what it is. I'm not a shopper, so I think often when people think about this question, saver, spender, we think about shopping. Like, do I buy frivolously? But when it comes to travel or maybe like dining, sometimes I do like to go to a nice restaurant. And then maybe I am more of a spender than a saver.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I like it too. I like to go to nice restaurants because I want the experience. I want a glass of wine, I want a nice meal. I want to socialize with friends. You know, you're getting so much more when you're. You're investing in experiences. So this is a great. What are we getting into today? Aubrey?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, so this is, this was one of the questions the conversation starters in Open Conversation Club last week, and it sparked a really interesting conversation because one of this we were talking about cheap. A person being described as Cheap and the difference between that and frugal. And they were asking, what is the opposite of cheap? And, you know, everyone was googling it and seeing all of these words that the Internet was giving us. I'm like, that doesn't really mean the opposite of cheap. So we want to share that vocabulary today. That was so fascinating so that you guys. Because this is interesting to. It's an interesting way to connect, to describe yourself, your spending habits and those people that you know.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. And it's important to be clear, especially if we're describing other people, to be clear for sure. So, guys, if you're wondering what OCC is. Open Conversation Club. This is a special bonus for listeners. Students in our courses. You get invited to come and practice conversation with us, with other students and small groups and large groups at Open Conversation Club when you join one of our courses. Okay.

[Aubrey Carter]

And there every week, sometimes twice a week. It is so fun. Great conversations, excellent opportunities to meet speaking partners and practice speaking English. And with us, the host of Allers English. It is so fun. I look forward to it every week.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's really cool. Like, this week, I was able to do two or three hot seats where I pull us one lucky student out of the break room to speak with me. Um, it's a really cool benefit, right. Of being in our courses. You get to.

[Aubrey Carter]

And we love getting to know you. Right. That's one of the downsides of podcasting. We don't get to know you, our listeners, as much as we'd like. So it's always so exciting for us when you are in one of our courses and get to come to these live speaking events.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Amazing. Aubrey, let's get into just defining some key terms, because this does say a lot about lifestyle, about values. What is the most important word for today that we're talking about in the episode?

[Aubrey Carter]

So, first is the word cheap, which mean there are different meanings. Meanings. Right. If you're describing a thing as cheap, it means inexpensive. That's not what we're talking about today. We're talking about when you describe a person as cheap, which means stingy, miserly. These are also words. They don't like to spend money, often at the risk of looking bad. Right. Of looking. Losing face is what we will say sometimes. This is an idiom. This. It's very. Has a very negative connotation. I would not want someone to call me cheap. What about you, Lindsay?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Absolutely not. You want to avoid that at all costs. I mean, I know that within my partner's social circle, my partner's Sister had a friend, and somehow this guy's name was. Let's call him Dan. It's not his real name, but he got the label Cheap Dan.

[Aubrey Carter]

Oh, no.

[Lindsey McMahon]

And I'm like, oh, no. What happened? What did he do? How did he get that label? He's called Cheap Dan. Are we gonna invite Cheap Dan today?

[Aubrey Carter]

He probably never paid for his own meal, right? He, oh, I forgot my wallet. Cheap Dan always forgets his wallet.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Maybe he's revised his way. You do not want that label for sure.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. So that it was interesting because I was sharing with them this other vocabulary we're going to share. Because I don't like saving money, but I consider myself to be a frugal person. This H does not have the negative connotation that cheap has in some ways, practically, you know, in practical application, it might look the same sometimes, right? Someone might say that I'm too cheap to buy a lot of new clothes. I would say that I'm frugal. This means sparing or economical with money, right?

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's the weird thing about money. It means something different for everyone, right? It means different things. People see it with a different lens. So they might see you as cheap because you don't buy new clothes.

[Aubrey Carter]

But you.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You see it as strategic spending, right? Google, you want to spend that money on something different, right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. I just think I'm wise with money, right? I have frugal and I. There are things that I will. Like you said, with travel, I'm not as frugal when it comes to travel. I might want to stay in a nicer hotel or fly first class. We'll see. But when it comes to, like, clothing, I' very frugal.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Or just book that extra trip. The third trip of the year, right? You want to book that trip and not stay home. I do want to mention something about the word miserly, because when I look at it, you know, the pronunciation is miserly. But for our listeners, if you have the transcripts today, it looks like the beginning of miserable or commiserate. It feels like it should be miserly, but it's not right.

[Aubrey Carter]

It's true. This is interesting. The word miser as a noun spelled M I s e r is a person who is cheap. I think of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He is called in that Charles Dickens book a miser because he is not generous. He won't spend money both on himself and on others. And this adjective, you're right, is spelled M I, S, E, R, L, y. Hopefully you guys have the transcripts. It doesn't. It's not really pronounced the way you would expect.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I love it. So good to know. So did we got. We got that sample sentence. Are we ready for number two? Frugal. Aubrey.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, we did Frugal. Right. I shared this. Very economical. But the next one is thrifty. What does thrifty mean, Lindsay?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Well, it's the name of a rental car company that I can think of.

[Aubrey Carter]

But in an ice cream place. There are thrifty ice cream places in Mexico. All over the place.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Oh, interesting. It is using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. Right. So he's always been thrifty, or she's really thrifty and men's torn clothing rather than throwing it out.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. Right. So if you shop at thrift stores, someone might say you're thrifty. Right. You don't mind. Thrifting is the verb. Like you are willing to try and repurpose clothing or other items rather than just throwing it away and buying new.

[Lindsey McMahon]

And a lot of this has to do with our generation. Like, I know my mom's mom was around in the Great Depression and most. I'm sure you do, right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah.

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[Lindsey McMahon]

So her mom very safety. We used to save rubber bands. I mean, save everything. Plastic bags. There was no throwing out. So my mom, when I was growing up, she would always sew our clothing for us instead of just throwing it out. But I think now, I mean, I'll speak for myself. Like, it's a throwing out generation. Right. We just kind of. I don't know how to sew. That has not been carried. She tried to teach me how to sew, and I just was not interested.

[Aubrey Carter]

And it was lost with me because my mom taught me how to mend. How to sew. I can sew. I can make clothing. I can use a sewing machine. But I have not passed that on to my children. I don't necessarily have the patience. And they have no interest. So they now are probably not going to mend. They can, like, stitch a little hole, but most of the time they're just going to get rid of it.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's just what we've been through. What are the big shock waves that have been set through the economy as we've been in our formative years. That's what determines a lot of times how we deal with money. Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Interesting. And now time is money. They're like, I don't want to take the time to fix that. Throw it out. Buy something.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Right, Right. So, Aubrey, there you Know what would you say? Then I'll just ask you the question, what's the opposite of cheap?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. So this was really interesting. Students in open conversation club asked this and I had to think about it a second and we were googling and online the results you will get will say generous, liberal, charitable, bountiful, open handed. All of these adjectives. If you ask, you know, what is the opposite of cheap? None of these are correct because the word cheap has such a negative connotation of being stingy. And there really isn't a word that means the opposite of that. We would just say not cheap. Is he cheap? No, he's not cheap. Right. And so it's interesting because this does happen in English and in every language that sometimes there isn't a really direct opposite. Especially for something that has a connotation like this. Negative connotation. Sometimes the opposite is just not that whatever it is not something.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Sometimes that's true. I mean the word generous is, is close, but it doesn't necessarily mean exactly the opposite. Right, but what are some sample sentences here, Aubrey?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, so for example, you know, he's not cheap, he always pays for his meal when we go out. Or they're not cheap, they always tip generously. But it's interesting because I agree, generous is similar. Right. That means to give more of something than is necessary or expected, time, money. So the opposite of like someone who doesn't tip servers could be called cheap.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Right.

[Aubrey Carter]

And then maybe someone who does tip a lot would be called generous. But this can exist in the same person. Someone that you might call cheap could be very generous in other ways. Right, right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

So that's why, I mean, humans are not simple. If I've learned anything in the last few years, yes, people are extremely contradicting of themselves in their actions. Everyone is. And we all have our weird contradictions and idiosyncrasies. Right. So that is absolutely true. But you might just use it, talk about the sit itself like he's a good tipper. Right. In that exact situation you might say he's not cheap, he's a good tipper.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right, exactly right. But often, like I think it's important to, to think about this, that when you are looking for opposites in English, you are going to get, you know, if you look at the thesaurus, you look at all of these adjectives, they all will have a specific meaning, Right? They all have these slightly different meanings and you can't just assume that they all mean the exact opposite because so many words have these implications, have these Connotations. So if you call someone cheap, that's actually quite rude. And, and if it's true, okay. But if not, you could really. I would hate to be called cheap.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, like, like I always said at the top of the show, my sister in law would never call Cheap Dan Cheap Dan to his face. Right. Party. Glad you're here. No, right.

[Aubrey Carter]

It's just too mean. And often people who are cheap don't realize it about themselves. They would probably call themselves frugal. You know, they think, they think of themselves as frugal. So this is really interesting. But if you were to need the opposite, if someone asks you like, oh, that guy cheap and you want to say that he's not, you would just say, no, he's not cheap.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I agree. Yeah, I think that's a good, that's a good way to put it. I love it. And then the word lavish.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. So these came up too. Both lavish and extravagant came up as opposites. When we're looking for the opposite of stingy, this means more like spending money freely. And we're often, we often use it to describe like parties, restaurants, the ballroom is so lavish, you know, the chandeliers, gigantic or extravagant meals. Like wow, that 12 course meal was extravagant. Means like lot of money was spent freely on it. I wouldn't use either of these as the opposite of cheap. If someone's not cheap, I wouldn't say no, they're lavish, they're extravagant. So it's really tricky. You just can't always trust the Internet if that like they gave the, the Internet, they gave this as the opposite. And I, I beg to differ.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, we did an episode over on I energy about staying away, being careful with forums when we're asking questions. You need context. Today we're giving you the context. Right. It's all about context.

[Aubrey Carter]

Thanks.

[Lindsey McMahon]

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[Aubrey Carter]

All right. You and I are discussing our friends spending habits in this role play. I'll start.

[Lindsey McMahon]

All right, here we go.

[Aubrey Carter]

I don't want to call Mark cheap, but I think he's pretty loath to spend his money.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, I get that impression. I'm frugal, but I try not to be cheap.

[Aubrey Carter]

Same. Especially when it comes to clothes. I've always been thrifty. Travel too. I try to find budget flights and hotels.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You're a generous person. You'd pay every time we go to lunch. If I let you.

[Aubrey Carter]

I love this bonus. Loathe. It means like reluctant or unwilling. And we will just use it conversationally like this. But it's a little less common.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I think. It's very high level, actually.

[Aubrey Carter]

I agree. Yeah.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Super high level. Like C1, B2 C1 level. But if our listeners. If you guys can put that into your speech, it is a marker of just sophisticated speaking. Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. And use it in this chunk. Someone is loathe to do something else. She is loathe to walk into a haunted house. Just means unwilling.

[Lindsey McMahon]

100. I love that. So let's go through it, Aubry. So first you said I don't want to call Mark cheap, but I think he's pretty loath to spend money.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. This is me. Like nicely say, I've noticed we have a friend that's cheap. I recognize that that's not a kind thing to say. So I'm sort of trying to say it in a nicer way.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, exactly. But. And still trying to say it.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You want to express that in some way.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right. And then you say I'm frugal, but I try not to be cheap. And you could see that. Right? Frugal means I'm careful with my money. I'm not spending extravagantly, but I try not to be cheap. Do I try not to do things that would give this negative impression of me.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Right? Exactly, exactly. And then we use the word thrifty. Say same. Especially when it comes to clothes. I've always been thrifty. Right, Thrifty, meaning you've always been. It's very similar to frugal. Right. Pretty much the same thing.

[Aubrey Carter]

Would you say a little different? Because I. You can't use. I don't. I don't feel like you can use thrifty when it comes to maybe travel or food. I wouldn't be like, I'm thrifty with my spending at restaurants. I feel like it's more about repurposing things. So, like clothing. If we're trying to mend clothing instead of buy new clothing, we would say thrifty. Yeah. Resourceful. Yes, resourceful. If you're resourceful. But I do feel like in general, we'll call someone thrifty who's just good at saving money. Right?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Got it. Got it. Love it. And then I said, you're a generous person. You'd pay every time we go to lunch if I let you.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right? Yeah. And this is that very complimentary adjective. Right. It means to give more of something than necessary or expected. We all have those friends who are so generous, we would almost have to insist to pay because they're us. They're always trying to pay, trying to be very generous.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, for sure. And everyone has different ideas about money. It's really interesting. This kind of interfaces, too, with the cultural value that Americans don't talk about money, but we do. We do talk about money. Right. It's just that we talk about it in certain ways.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right, exactly right. There are certain subjects we avoid and certain vocabulary we avoid. Right. It's interesting. Certain subjects we really stay away from.

[Lindsey McMahon]

But this is a perfectly viable conversation. So when we say these are the four topics, you know, money, sex, religion, politics. That's not necessarily true. We have to look at the nuances of how we talk about money.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right, exactly right. We might talk about a friend that's cheap, but we certainly, the person we're telling that to, we certainly wouldn't ask them, like, how much they make. Like, there are certain things that are so taboo that we would avoid asking.

[Lindsey McMahon]

That's really interesting. It's like the fine lines, how. When do you. Where do you go? Too far? Aubry, is that the takeaway for today, or is there anything else we need to know now?

[Aubrey Carter]

I do think that's it. I mean, first of all, there are. And we talk about this a lot. We try to point out these pitfalls in English words that you might not realize have a negative connotation to help you avoid giving offense without meaning to. Cheap is one of them, right? I would definitely never call anyone cheap to their face. If you think they're cheap, that might be something you say to a friend, like maybe we don't invite them to lunch.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, I love it. I love it. Hey guys, if you love our style of looking for human connection in every language point, how can you connect in in any English speaking situation? Then hit the follow button right here on the show so you don't miss a single episode. Right, Aubry?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Absolutely. Awesome. Fun episode today, Lindsay.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, Good stuff. Good stuff. We'll talk to you very soon. All right.

[Aubrey Carter]

See you next time.

[Lindsey McMahon]

All right, you take care. Bye bye. Thanks for listening. To all ears. English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minutes quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com fluencyscore and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

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