Meaning of wouldn't shout if a shark bit him | Babel Free

Definitions

To be frugal or miserly.

Australia, idiomatic

Examples

“'Yeah, he's as silly as a two-bob watch. And mean. He wouldn't shout [buy a drink] if a shark bit him.' 'Too right, he's got snakes in his pockets. Anyhow, how's the punting?' 'No luck, mate.[…]'”

“'Must be Martin's shout,' says one of them. The others roar with laughter. It's always Martin's shout but he's never there when you need him. 'Martin wouldn't shout if a shark bit him,' Harry explains to the tourist, filling up his glass.”

“Weasel was noted for the outlandish stories of his sexual and other exploits in Australia and the Philippines. No one believed him and he was generally considered a pain in the arse. To make matters worse he was known to have a "death adder" in his pocket. "Wouldn't shout if a shark bit him", was the general opinion.”

“He was a fat, balding, bad-tempered man, with a deserved reputation for stinginess. "Bastard wouldn't shout if a shark bit him," Dusty used to say, punning on "shout."”

CEFR level