tighten your belt

tighten (one's) belt

To reduce, restrict, or limit one's budget; to live more modestly or make financial sacrifices. A: "I don't know what we'll do now that you lost your job." B: "Don't worry, we just need to tighten our belts for a while. Living on my own during college taught me how to tighten my belt and get by on not very much.
See also: belt, tighten
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tighten your belt

COMMON If you tighten your belt, you make an effort to spend less money. Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to tighten your belt. He recently announced the club will have to tighten its belt next season, saying he will lower wages and sell players. Note: You can also talk about belt tightening. Yesterday's vote means that the Greeks are prepared to accept a period of belt tightening. The nation's second largest bank announced a series of layoffs and other belt-tightening measures today to counteract heavy losses.
See also: belt, tighten
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

tighten your belt

cut your expenditure; live more frugally.
See also: belt, tighten
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

tighten your ˈbelt

spend less money, eat less food, etc. because there is little available: In wartime everyone has to tighten their belts. We’ll have to tighten our belts if we want to save any money for a summer break this year. OPPOSITE: throw your money about/around ▶ ˈbelt-tightening noun: Continued government belt-tightening has helped to reduce public debt.
See also: belt, tighten
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • tighten (one's) belt
  • tighten belt
  • tighten one’s belt
  • tighten one's belt
  • pull in (one's) belt (a notch (or two))
  • take (one's) belt in (a notch (or two))
  • take belt in
  • take in (one's) belt (a notch (or two))
  • take one’s belt in
  • take one’s belt in a notch
References in periodicals archive
The first is to quite literally tighten your belt as if your stomach feels squeezed there's less food required to fill it - so crank it up to the last notch and have an apple - you'll feel full and your food bill's down straight away!
The first tip is to quite literally tighten your belt as if your stomach feels squeezed there's less food required to fill it
Spence MacDonald
2Before starting a meal, tighten your belt or waistband so you'll feel uncomfortable sooner if you over eat.
YourLIFE: 4FAB WAYS TO LOSE POUNDS!
Tighten Your Belt lost little in a narrow defeat by Olney Lad at Wetherby last month.
Racing: King 'very happy' with Halcon Genelardais ahead of hat-trick bid; RACE OF THE DAY 3.30 EXETER Elizabeth Finn Care Novices' Chase (3m 11/2f), live on ATR
The 15-times champion trainer had gone 47 runners without a winner before Tom Scudamore's mount finally came to the rescue, beating Tighten Your Belt and Bob Bob Bobbin by six lengths and three and a half"It's a relief and I hope I've turned the corner, but who knows?" said Pipe.
Racing: Pipe drought is over
PUNTERS can line their pockets by backing Tighten Your Belt (3.45) at Towcester today.
Racing: TIGHTEN SET TO BELT IN
2 TIGHTEN your belt (or wear a tight waistband) before you tuck into a large spread.
Women: 6 WAYS TO STOP EATING TOO MUCH
Venetia Williams, trainer of King Solomon and Tighten Your Belt
SunAlliance Chase: Aspell hopeful of a big run from Big Moment
2BEFORE you eat a meal, tighten your belt or waistband so you will feel uncomfortable sooner if you over-eat.
Your Life - DIET: 5 SNEAKY WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT
He must concede 3lb to bumper winners Tighten Your Belt and Tragic Ohio, who have both impressed in making successful hurdling debuts this month, and Control Man, who was a remote fourth behind Cornish Rebel in a Grade 1 event at Newbury last time.
Uttoxeter Briefing: Conditions expected to favour Cosmocrat
HSBC's head of mortgages, Sian Lehrter, added:"Unless you are extremely well off you will probably have to tighten your belt until you have settled into your new place.
Your Money: Homebuyers
Thomas, 19, continues to enjoy a meteoric rise since shedding his amateur status in November and he will struggle to find an easier winner than Tighten Your Belt, who justified
Towcester: Teenagers on the rampage
"So, my advice to them is to change the color of your glasses and tighten your belts. Stop spending more than you need to," he added.
F1 boss Ecclestone recommends budget cap ahead of season opener