tighten one's belt

by A. Makkai, M.T. Boatner, J.E. Gates

[tighten one's belt] {v. phr.}

To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things.

* /When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts./

Often used in the expression "tighten one's belt another notch".

* /When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had to tighten their belts another notch./

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	{v. phr.} ²¹⁸³

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

To upper section: T


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	See also »
	notch [notch] See: TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT. A Dictionary of American Idioms belt [belt] See: BELOW THE BELT, SEAT BELT, TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT, UNDER ONE'S BELT. A Dictionary of American Idioms under one's belt [under one's belt] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. * /Once ... A Dictionary of American Idioms tighten the screws [tighten the screws] {v. phr.} To try to make someone do something by making it ... A Dictionary of American Idioms seat belt [seat belt] {n.} A strong strap used to protect a person in a moving car ... A Dictionary of American Idioms below the belt [below the belt] {adv. phr.} 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal in boxing. ... A Dictionary of American Idioms lose one's shirt [lose one's shirt] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all or most of your money. * ... A Dictionary of American Idioms

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