racanear

Senses

1. 1.

   to be stingy; to be miserly

   to act in a mean or niggardly way with money or resources

2. 2.

   to cheat; to swindle

   to defraud or trick someone, especially in a small-time or petty way

Examples

• "No racanees con la propina; el mesero trabajó bien."

  Don't be stingy with the tip; the waiter worked well.

• "Se rumora que racanea en los pagos a sus empleados."

  It's rumored that he cheats his employees on their wages.

• "Siempre está racanando para ahorrar unos cuantos pesos."

  He's always being miserly to save a few pesos.

Usage

Informal and somewhat pejorative verb, more common in Latin American Spanish than Peninsular Spanish. Often used to criticize petty greed or dishonest behavior. Derived from the noun "racano" (a miserly or cheating person).