belt-tightening
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of belt-tightening
First recorded in 1935–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tractor Supply is dialing up promotions and trimming prices on popular items after concluding consumer belt-tightening won’t abate anytime soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
The belt-tightening measures have not reassured investors, with the stock shedding 26 percent of its value since the start of this year.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
The company is dealing with a belt-tightening consumer base and a weaker housing market.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026
But aware of the risks, it has brought in a series of belt-tightening measures - including declaring Wednesdays a public holiday and bringing in fuel rationing.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
The company had already been undergoing scattered instances of belt-tightening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
