Basic Details
Word: Niggardly
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Very stingy or unwilling to give or spend money.
Synonyms: Stingy, miserly, tight-fisted
Antonyms: Generous, lavish, open-handed
Idioms and Phrases
- Open your wallet: To spend money freely. Example: "When it was time for dinner, he really had to open his wallet instead of being niggardly."
- Penny wise, pound foolish: Being careful with small amounts of money but wasteful with larger amounts. Example: "Being niggardly with the project budget was penny wise, pound foolish, as it cost them in the end."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The niggardly behaviour of the manager left the staff feeling unappreciated and undervalued.
Example 2: Despite being wealthy, his niggardly ways meant he never donated to charity.
Example 3: It was surprising how niggardly he was when it came to sharing his snacks with friends.
Fun Fact
The word "niggardly" has its roots in Old Norse, derived from the word "nigla," which means to be stingy or to be mean. It has been in use since the 14th century!
Famous Quote
"The niggardly man gathers more thorns than flowers." - Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "niggardly" mean?
a) Very generous
b) Very happy
c) Very stingy
d) Very clever
Answer: c) Very stingy
2. Which of these is a synonym of "niggardly"?
a) Generous
b) Lavish
c) Miserly
d) Giving
Answer: c) Miserly
3. What is an antonym of "niggardly"?
a) Mean
b) Stingy
c) Generous
d) Tight-fisted
Answer: c) Generous
4. Which sentence uses "niggardly" correctly?
a) She was niggardly and shared everything with her friends.
b) He was niggardly with his money, never buying a round for anyone.
c) They were niggardly when they won the lottery and gave lots of money away.
d) The niggardly man was celebrated for his generosity.
Answer: b) He was niggardly with his money, never buying a round for anyone.
5. Which idiom relates to being niggardly?
a) Open your wallet
b) A penny saved is a penny earned
c) Penny wise, pound foolish
d) Bite the bullet
Answer: c) Penny wise, pound foolish
