C1idiommoneyIELTS-friendly
tighten your belt
USUK
to spend less money because you have less than before
Used about families, companies and governments. Same image as Vietnamese 'thắt lưng buộc bụng'.
In context
Prices have gone up a lot, so you may need to tighten your belt this year.
After losing two big clients, the company had to tighten its belt.
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