What are idioms that are antonymous to “don't skimp on”?
The idiom "don't skimp on" means don't be shy and put as much as necessary. I am now wondering if there are idioms that mean the opposite of that. I am sure there are many, but it's hard to look for idioms since you can't look them up on a dictionary unless you know them.
For example:
Please, don't skimp on the butter. It's good stuff!
idiom-request
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
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The idiom "don't skimp on" means don't be shy and put as much as necessary. I am now wondering if there are idioms that mean the opposite of that. I am sure there are many, but it's hard to look for idioms since you can't look them up on a dictionary unless you know them.
For example:
Please, don't skimp on the butter. It's good stuff!
idiom-request
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
add a comment |
The idiom "don't skimp on" means don't be shy and put as much as necessary. I am now wondering if there are idioms that mean the opposite of that. I am sure there are many, but it's hard to look for idioms since you can't look them up on a dictionary unless you know them.
For example:
Please, don't skimp on the butter. It's good stuff!
idiom-request
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The idiom "don't skimp on" means don't be shy and put as much as necessary. I am now wondering if there are idioms that mean the opposite of that. I am sure there are many, but it's hard to look for idioms since you can't look them up on a dictionary unless you know them.
For example:
Please, don't skimp on the butter. It's good stuff!
idiom-request
idiom-request
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
asked Mar 17 at 19:03
wokenwoken
304
304
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
woken is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
add a comment |
You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
We are unlikely to use the antonym in the imperative form. We don't tell people to "use less than is needed".
There are plenty of ways to describe someone using less of something
He was scrimping (and saving)
He was being frugal
He was stingy
He was mean with the butter
He was being careful with the butter.
These have a different nuance. Being "frugal" and "careful" are generally positive. Being mean or stingy are negative.
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
add a comment |
You could say:
"Go easy on the ..."
"Light on the ..."
"Don't over-do it on ..."
"Be sparing with ..."
"Don't get carried away with the ..."
"Take it easy with the ..."
"Be judicious with ..."
"Use a light touch with the ..."
or even the simple, "Not too much ..."
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
add a comment |
Please give me [just adjectives]
- just a little butter.
- a tad of butter.
- just a dab of butter.
- just a teeny bit of butter.
Actual idioms:
Please go light on the butter. To go light on butter or cream or sugar. Anything you add to food or drink.
Please don't overdo it on the butter. [not too much, same as above]
Please hold off on the butter. [not any]
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
We are unlikely to use the antonym in the imperative form. We don't tell people to "use less than is needed".
There are plenty of ways to describe someone using less of something
He was scrimping (and saving)
He was being frugal
He was stingy
He was mean with the butter
He was being careful with the butter.
These have a different nuance. Being "frugal" and "careful" are generally positive. Being mean or stingy are negative.
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
add a comment |
We are unlikely to use the antonym in the imperative form. We don't tell people to "use less than is needed".
There are plenty of ways to describe someone using less of something
He was scrimping (and saving)
He was being frugal
He was stingy
He was mean with the butter
He was being careful with the butter.
These have a different nuance. Being "frugal" and "careful" are generally positive. Being mean or stingy are negative.
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
add a comment |
We are unlikely to use the antonym in the imperative form. We don't tell people to "use less than is needed".
There are plenty of ways to describe someone using less of something
He was scrimping (and saving)
He was being frugal
He was stingy
He was mean with the butter
He was being careful with the butter.
These have a different nuance. Being "frugal" and "careful" are generally positive. Being mean or stingy are negative.
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
We are unlikely to use the antonym in the imperative form. We don't tell people to "use less than is needed".
There are plenty of ways to describe someone using less of something
He was scrimping (and saving)
He was being frugal
He was stingy
He was mean with the butter
He was being careful with the butter.
These have a different nuance. Being "frugal" and "careful" are generally positive. Being mean or stingy are negative.
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
edited Mar 17 at 20:00
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
answered Mar 17 at 19:22
James KJames K
38.5k14098
38.5k14098
add a comment |
add a comment |
You could say:
"Go easy on the ..."
"Light on the ..."
"Don't over-do it on ..."
"Be sparing with ..."
"Don't get carried away with the ..."
"Take it easy with the ..."
"Be judicious with ..."
"Use a light touch with the ..."
or even the simple, "Not too much ..."
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
add a comment |
You could say:
"Go easy on the ..."
"Light on the ..."
"Don't over-do it on ..."
"Be sparing with ..."
"Don't get carried away with the ..."
"Take it easy with the ..."
"Be judicious with ..."
"Use a light touch with the ..."
or even the simple, "Not too much ..."
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
add a comment |
You could say:
"Go easy on the ..."
"Light on the ..."
"Don't over-do it on ..."
"Be sparing with ..."
"Don't get carried away with the ..."
"Take it easy with the ..."
"Be judicious with ..."
"Use a light touch with the ..."
or even the simple, "Not too much ..."
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
You could say:
"Go easy on the ..."
"Light on the ..."
"Don't over-do it on ..."
"Be sparing with ..."
"Don't get carried away with the ..."
"Take it easy with the ..."
"Be judicious with ..."
"Use a light touch with the ..."
or even the simple, "Not too much ..."
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
Lorel C.Lorel C.
3,726149
3,726149
add a comment |
add a comment |
Please give me [just adjectives]
- just a little butter.
- a tad of butter.
- just a dab of butter.
- just a teeny bit of butter.
Actual idioms:
Please go light on the butter. To go light on butter or cream or sugar. Anything you add to food or drink.
Please don't overdo it on the butter. [not too much, same as above]
Please hold off on the butter. [not any]
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
add a comment |
Please give me [just adjectives]
- just a little butter.
- a tad of butter.
- just a dab of butter.
- just a teeny bit of butter.
Actual idioms:
Please go light on the butter. To go light on butter or cream or sugar. Anything you add to food or drink.
Please don't overdo it on the butter. [not too much, same as above]
Please hold off on the butter. [not any]
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
add a comment |
Please give me [just adjectives]
- just a little butter.
- a tad of butter.
- just a dab of butter.
- just a teeny bit of butter.
Actual idioms:
Please go light on the butter. To go light on butter or cream or sugar. Anything you add to food or drink.
Please don't overdo it on the butter. [not too much, same as above]
Please hold off on the butter. [not any]
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
Please give me [just adjectives]
- just a little butter.
- a tad of butter.
- just a dab of butter.
- just a teeny bit of butter.
Actual idioms:
Please go light on the butter. To go light on butter or cream or sugar. Anything you add to food or drink.
Please don't overdo it on the butter. [not too much, same as above]
Please hold off on the butter. [not any]
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
answered Mar 17 at 20:09
LambieLambie
16.3k1438
16.3k1438
add a comment |
add a comment |
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You want the opposite of "give me lots of x", right?
– Lambie
Mar 17 at 20:02
@woken - We recommend waiting half a day or so before accepting an answer (see Not so fast! on meta.)
– J.R.♦
2 days ago