Skip to main content
to save a buck

to save a buck

2 6.4
Spend less money than usual when you buy something
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ahorrar dinero
  • He always tries to save a buck by shopping during sales.
  • trying to save a buck
  • save a buck here and there

This is exactly the kind of stuff that normally these cheap machines cheap out on to save a buck and get this.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • But while more and more people might have turned to Walmart to save a buck, that seems to have resulted in an uptick in consumers who aren't thrilled with the mega retailer.

    Blog text (26)
  • That show is pretty funny with how ridiculous some people get to save a buck!

    Blog text (34)
  • The administration of this hospital is only concerned with one thing... saving a buck.

  • Right now, though, I feel like there are so many more important issues to focus on beyond just saving a buck.

    Blog text (9)
  • There will always be people out there who have to save a buck and can only do it cheaply.

    Blog text (29)
  • I do all the work myself so I can save a buck or two, and I share the process with you to hopefully inspire you to tackle projects in your home.

    Blog text (22)
  • They'll do anything to save a buck, except cut their own perks, of course.

  • You might save a buck by buying it online through Amazon, but you'll help us build the Kingdom more effectively if you buy things through us.

    Blog text (27)
  • She is into natural living, being green, and tries to feed her family healthy, wholesome food while still couponing and saving a buck or two.

    Blog text (15)
  • Many families are looking for ways to save a buck on their grocery bills.

Synonyms

to save
vsto save a buck
644 1.0

Use less of something to avoid waste

is about cutting how much is spent on one item
to save money
vsto save a buck
257 1.3

To put money aside instead of spending it now

focuses on spending less than usual for a specific purchase
to scrimp
vsto save a buck
8 7.4

Spend very little money by using only what you need

means spend less in a normal, not extreme, way
to economize
vsto save a buck
  • US
7 5.0

Use money or resources carefully to avoid waste

applies this careful use specifically to buying or spending less
to tighten one's belt
vsto save a buck
  • Informal
5 5.8

Spend less and live more simply because you have less money

is a general economizing action not tied to hardship reasons
to stretch one's budget
vsto save a buck
1 3.7

Make your money last longer by spending carefully

is narrower, applying to spending less on a particular thing
to curtail spending
vsto save a buck
1 4.3

To spend less money to save or avoid debt

is more specific to spending less than usual on something
to penny-pinch
vsto save a buck
  • Informal
1 7.7

Spend very little money and avoid buying things you do not need

means economize moderately, not live with extreme thrift
to prune the budget
vsto save a buck
4.9

To cut spending by removing unnecessary costs from a budget

is more limited, focusing on spending less for one purchase
to play it cheap
vsto save a buck
  • Informal
8.2

Spend as little money as possible by buying low-quality things

is neutral and practical rather than stingy or poor quality
to skin a flint for a penny
vsto save a buck
  • Archaic
9.9

To be very unwilling to spend money, even small amounts

describes ordinary economizing rather than extreme miserliness

Antonyms

1.0

To give money to buy something or pay for services

1.0

To use or spend something carelessly and without good reason

How Economical

to scrimp
8 7.4
to tighten one's belt
  • Informal
5 5.8
to cut costs
30 3.0
to save money
257 1.3
to save a buck
  • Informal
2 6.4

Surface Forms

save a buck infinitive
saved a buck past participle
saving a buck present participle
saves a buck third person singular

Morphology

save + a + buck

The meaning 'to economize' is directly and compositionally built from 'save' (to keep/spare money) plus 'buck' (a dollar), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to saving money (often a small amount). The pattern 'save + [amount]' is a transparent, common construction and is cross-linguistically accessible, making it understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase save a buck comes from using buck as a word for one dollar; imagine putting that single dollar into your piggy bank instead of spending it. So, save a buck means 'to spend less money' or 'economize'.