C1idiommoneyIELTS-friendly
live beyond your means
USUK
to spend more money than you earn or can afford
Used as a criticism or warning. The opposite is 'live within your means'.
In context
If you use credit cards to pay for holidays, you may be living beyond your means.
Many young people live beyond their means to keep up with friends on social media.
More idioms about money
- a nest eggan amount of money saved over time for the future, such as retirement
- a rip-offsomething that costs far more than it is really worth
- break the bankto cost more money than you can afford
- cost an arm and a legto be very expensive
- down the drainwasted or lost completely, especially money or effort