a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser

he's a notorious tight-arse and is always very hesitant about coughing up for anything

when it comes to money, I’m a tight-ass who is at pains to avoid looking like one

an inhibited, repressed, or excessively conventional person

you are the most buttoned-up tight-arse that I have ever met

a well-worn Hollywood theme—repressed tight-ass reformed by intrusion of uncouth slob