As mean as the grave

Posted by ESC on October 08, 2004

In Reply to: As mean as the grave posted by Peter Goldsmith on October 08, 2004

: I have heard this said about people who never spend money. Does anyone know the origin. The more I think about it I think it must mean wicked not tight.

A guess: The grave yields nothing. So this meaning of mean would work: 5 a : PENURIOUS, STINGY (Merriam-Webster.)