squeeze every penny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "squeeze every penny" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to emphasize the need to be frugal when spending money and usually comes at the end of a sentence. For example, you could say "I try to make smart investments and squeeze every penny out of my budget".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Both sides are trying to squeeze every penny from each sale.

The New York Times

"You've got to remember the International Olympic Committee is a monopoly … and they try to squeeze every penny they can out of the host city," Keating said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mr. Malloy said he planned to squeeze every penny by consolidating state agencies, but acknowledged there would still be plenty of pain to go around.

The New York Times

And since he paid over the market rate for the company, he will want to squeeze every penny from its money-making Dow Jones operation.

The Guardian

Buckinghamshire is considering doing the same, having lost that amount last year.As Osbornite austerity bites, local authorities will want to squeeze every penny they can from enforcing parking regulations.

The Economist

"It could happen that the tunnel, burdened with debt and desperate to squeeze every penny out of the market, will set off a price war". It's a war that the ferry companies would be terrified to win.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Customers see it's not about greed and squeezing every penny out of that fish supper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We squeezed every penny out of the budget and worked like dogs.

The Guardian - Film

The switch in tactics comes at a time when online publishers are feeling a little more flush with the broad upswing in advertising and perhaps less anxious about squeezing every penny out of remnant ads.

The New York Times

He told the BBC: "Clearly if you have less money to spend you are not going to be able to safeguard every job, and we are going to see significant reductions in staff, but this is about squeezing every penny, every pound, to protect frontline services".

The Guardian

By the time he was 40, having propelled himself Horatio Alger-fromion from bobbin boy in a cotton factory to shrewd investor in growth industries, Carnegie had almost total control of steel production in western Pennsylvania, and he spent the next 25 years squeezing every penny he could out of his mills.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "squeeze every penny" when you want to emphasize the importance of extracting maximum value or benefit from limited resources. It adds a sense of urgency and thoroughness to financial management.

Common error

Don't use "squeeze every penny" when simply cutting costs. The phrase implies maximizing value from already existing, limited resources, not just indiscriminate reduction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "squeeze every penny" functions as an idiomatic expression used to emphasize the act of trying to extract the maximum possible value or savings from a limited budget or resource. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science & Research

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "squeeze every penny" is a common idiomatic expression that conveys the idea of maximizing value and minimizing waste, especially in financial contexts. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and applicability in diverse written forms. It is most frequently encountered in news and media, business, and academic sources, indicating a neutral register. When employing this phrase, ensure that you are highlighting efforts to optimize limited resources, rather than simply cutting costs. Alternatives such as "tighten the purse strings" and "get the most bang for your buck" can be used to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get the most bang for your buck

American idiom that implies receiving the most value for a small investment of money.

tighten the purse strings

An idiomatic alternative focusing on controlling spending tightly.

economize rigorously

Emphasizes strict economy, removing the idiomatic feel.

be extremely thrifty

Highlights the characteristic of being thrifty, less focused on the act of economizing.

cut costs drastically

Focuses on cost reduction, lacking the connotation of maximizing value from existing resources.

practice extreme frugality

Similar to being thrifty, but emphasizes a consistent practice of frugality.

minimize expenditure

A more formal way of expressing cost reduction, devoid of the colloquial tone.

improve cost efficiency

Centers on making processes more efficient in terms of cost.

trim the fat

Implies removing unnecessary expenses, rather than maximizing the use of all resources.

optimize resource allocation

Focuses on efficient allocation rather than simple reduction.

FAQs

How can I use "squeeze every penny" in a sentence?

You can use "squeeze every penny" to describe efforts to maximize value or minimize costs, for example: "The company is working hard to "squeeze every penny" out of its marketing budget."

What does it mean to "squeeze every penny"?

To "squeeze every penny" means to try to get the maximum possible value or savings from a limited amount of money or resources.

Which is correct, "squeeze every penny" or "squeeze every dollar"?

Both "squeeze every penny" and "squeeze every dollar" are correct; the choice depends on the currency being discussed or the context of the conversation. The former is more common in British English, while the latter is more common in American English.

What can I say instead of "squeeze every penny"?

You can use alternatives like "economize rigorously", "tighten the purse strings", or "get the most bang for your buck" depending on the context.