take one’s belt in
take (one's) belt in (a notch (or two))
To reduce, restrict, or limit one's budget or expenses; to live more modestly or make financial sacrifices. (Alluding to having a thinner waist line due to having less to eat.) It's pretty galling to see the CEO driving up to work in a brand new company car while the rest of us are being told to take our belts in to help save the business. With your mother out of work, we're all going to have to take our belts in a notch or two for a little while. I really love my new job, but it pays a lot less so I've had to start taking my belt in a notch.
See also: belt, notch, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take one’s belt in
verbSee take one’s belt in a notch
See also: belt, take
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- bring (someone) to heel
- bring someone to heel
- bring to heel
- call (someone) to heel
- be put out to grass
- cook the books
- cook the accounts
- aloof from
- catch a tiger by the tail