“Alligator Arms” Is About Short Reach and a Bitey Pocket Creature That Keeps One From Reaching for Money

Alligator arms is a joking way to describe a tightwad whose arms suddenly seem too short to reach the restaurant check or a wallet. Bob from Minnesota uses it alongside a little menagerie of similar images: in Argentina, a miserly person may be said to have a crocodile in their pocket; in France, a sea urchin; in Brazil, a scorpion. The common idea is that something sharp or fearsome keeps the hand out of the pocket. This is part of a complete episode.

We’ve talked before about how in Argentina, somebody who’s miserly is said to have a crocodile in their pocket.

Or in France, you have a sea urchin. Or in Brazil, you have a scorpion. It’s whatever that thing is that’s in your pocket that’s so sharp that you don’t stick your hand in your pocket to get your wallet and pay a bill.

It’s a term for somebody who’s miserly, a tightwad.

And Bob from Minnesota left us a voicemail about the term that he uses, alligator arms.

Oh, yeah. Alligator arms.

You know, the bill comes to the middle of the table and you have alligator arms. You just can’t reach it.

Too short, like T-Rex arms, right?

Yeah.

Short-armed.

That’s another term for it.

He’s short-armed, can’t reach his pockets.

Words at waywordradio.org, 877-929-9673.