grinch

English

Dr. Seuss drawing sketches of the Grinch

Etymology

Named after the main character in a children's book by Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɹɪnt͡ʃ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪntʃ

Noun

grinch (plural grinches)

1. (chiefly US) A grouch or killjoy.

   Synonyms: grouch, killjoy, spoilsport; see also Thesaurus:spoilsport

   Coordinate term: scrooge

   • 2010 December 9, Chris Good, “Will Republicans Scuttle the Tax Cut Deal?”, in The Atlantic‎^[1]:

     Here's what they would risk: appearing responsible for higher taxes next year after Obama offered them a deal to extend the Bush-era rates, coming off as grinches for failing to extend unemployment insurance during the holiday season, and the possibility that next year Obama and Democrats will actually hold more leverage in this debate.

2. A person who aggressively sets out to ruin the Christmas holidays for others.

Derived terms

• grinchsome