london.localmean.com/skint
skint
SKINT · /skɪnt/
Local meaning
Having little or no money, especially temporarily.
In British informal English, someone who is “skint” has run out of spending money or cannot currently afford something. It often describes a temporary situation before payday rather than permanent poverty. In London it is common in everyday conversations about rent, travel, food, nights out, and the cost of living.
Examples in context
- I’m skint until payday, so I’m staying in tonight.
- After paying the deposit, we were completely skint.
- Can we choose somewhere cheaper? I’m a bit skint this week.
How it is used
The adjective normally follows a linking verb: “I’m skint” or “we were skint”. It describes someone’s current finances, not their worth or social status.
Frank, humorous, apologetic, or frustrated.
Budgeting, payday, shopping, travel plans, rent, and social invitations.
Broad informal British conversation.
Do not use a casual label to minimise serious financial hardship or poverty.
Spelling and scope
Common UK slang heard across London and Britain; it is not uniquely London and is broader than youth or MLE-associated vocabulary.
Common search forms stay discoverable without claiming that every London community uses one spelling.
Common patterns
- completely skint
- skint until payday
- a bit skint
- always skint
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
Sources support the definition, history, or usage layer. Local review remains welcome.
- skint — English meaningCambridge Dictionary
Documents the UK slang adjective for temporarily having little or no money.