tighten one's belt, to
tighten one's belt
Fig. to manage to spend less money; to use less of something. (See also take one's belt in (a notch).) Things are beginning to cost more and more. It looks like we'll all have to tighten our belts. Times are hard, and prices are high. I can tighten my belt for only so long.
See also: belt, tighten
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
tighten one's belt
Spend less, be more frugal, as in Business has been bad, so we'll have to tighten our belts. This metaphoric term alludes to pulling in one's belt after losing weight from not having enough to eat. [First half of 1900s]
See also: belt, tighten
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
tighten (one's) belt
To begin to exercise thrift and frugality.
See also: belt, tighten
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
tighten one's belt, to
To be more frugal; to undergo adversity with patience. The analogy here is to tightening one’s belt after losing weight from going hungry. The London Observer of 1927 described “A traveling troupe who quoted Corneille while tightening their belts.”
See also: tighten
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- even/much/still less
- much less
- under (someone's or something's) shadow
- under the shadow of (someone or something)
- in the shadow of (someone or something)
- in/under the shadow of
- half a loaf
- loaf
- a little frog in a big pond
- little frog in a big pond