verb
stiff
Cheat someone by withholding expected payment.
Some customers stiff their servers even when the service is excellent.
Etymology
The nonpayment verb developed in slang from stiff. Its exact motivation is uncertain, so the established meaning of cheating someone of payment is given without a speculative origin story.
More examples
- The client stiffed us on the final payment.
- Don't stiff the driver; leave a tip.
- The company is stiffing its workers on overtime pay.
Forms
stiff · stiffs · stiffed · stiffing