British English Slang – Skint.
Meaning – (adjective) To have no money.
The word skint is a slang term commonly used in British and Australian English to describe a situation where someone has little or no money. It’s an informal way of saying that someone is broke, or that they have no money to spare.
This expression can be used to describe both short-term and long-term financial difficulties. For example, someone might say that they’re skint because they spent too much money over the weekend and have nothing left in their bank account until their next payday. Alternatively, someone might say that they’re skint because they’re living on a low income or struggling to find work.
The term “skint” is believed to have originated in the early 20th century as a shortened form of the phrase “skinned”, which was used to describe someone who had been stripped of their money or assets. Over time, the term “skint” evolved to become a more general term for being short of money.
In addition to its use in British and Australian English, this term has also been adopted in some other English-speaking countries, such as New Zealand and South Africa. It’s a common slang term in informal conversations, and is often used humorously to describe a situation where someone has spent all their money and can’t afford to do anything fun or enjoyable.
If you are skint you should avoid visiting a loan shark (idiom) as you may end up feeling blue (idiom)!
Other terms for having very little money include:
-
- broke
- bust
- flat broke
- hard-up
- out of pocket
- penniless
- stone-broke
- strapped for cash
Example:
- “I’d love to come to the cinema with you guys tonight but I can’t because I’m totally skint.”
In The News:
Snooker star says 90% of players on tour are skint as chiefs hit back at prize money claim
Listen:
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