What does "skint" mean?
What it means: Having no money; broke; penniless - but usually temporarily, not permanently poor."I can't come out tonight, I'm skint.""I'm a bit skint until payday.""Sorry, I'm completely skint this month."Register: Informal British English. Not used in American English at all. Common across all...
What it means
Having no money; broke; penniless - but usually temporarily, not permanently poor.
"I can't come out tonight, I'm skint."
"I'm a bit skint until payday."
"Sorry, I'm completely skint this month."
Register
Informal British English. Not used in American English at all. Common across all age groups in Britain but most at home in casual conversation.
What it implies
Usually a temporary shortage of funds - the end of the month, an unexpected expense. It doesn't carry the weight of real poverty; it's more about being temporarily cash-poor.
Rhyming slang connection
Possibly from boracic lint β boracic β skint (Cockney rhyming slang for skint = minted without mint).
Alternatives
- "Broke" - American and British, casual
- "Potless" - British, informal
- "Strapped for cash" - more polite, implies temporary shortage
- "Cleaned out" - lost all money gambling or overspending
- "Skint to the bone" - emphatic version
Register
Casual, conversational. Would sound odd in professional or formal contexts.
What does "skint" mean?
Having no money; broke; penniless - but usually temporarily, not permanently poor.
"I can't come out tonight, I'm skint."
"I'm a bit skint until payday."
"Sorry, I'm completely skint this month."
Is "skint" formal or informal?
Informal British English. Not used in American English at all. Common across all age groups in Britain but most at home in casual conversation.
What's another way to say "skint"?
- "Broke" - American and British, casual
- "Potless" - British, informal
- "Strapped for cash" - more polite, implies temporary shortage
- "Cleaned out" - lost all money gambling or overspending
- "Skint to the bone" - emphatic version
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