shoestring

American  

[shoo-string] / ˈʃuˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. a shoelace.

2. a very small amount of money.

3. shoestrings. shoestring potatoes.

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adjective

1. consisting of or characterized by a small amount of money.

   living on a shoestring budget.

shoestring British  

/ ˈʃuːˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. another word for shoelace

2. informal

   1. a very small or petty amount of money (esp in the phrase on a shoestring )

   2. ( as modifier )

      a shoestring budget

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shoestring Idioms  

1. see on a shoestring.

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Etymology

Origin of shoestring

First recorded in 1610–20; shoe + string

Example Sentences

On the grandest stage, they simply couldn’t overcome their richer, name-brand foes, always in need of one or two more good players that they couldn’t afford on their shoestring budget.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

"It was all done on a shoestring budget," he said.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2025

“Any abortion recovery room I’ve ever been in has the good tea,” Krajewski told me, adding that it’s usually staff who pay for these refreshments since clinics often operate on shoestring budgets.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2025

Only a handful of ecosystem restoration projects were attempted, hampered by shoestring budgets.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2025

Started on a shoestring in 1898 by a former slave, the life insurance company grew vigorously, spinning off a black-owned bank and a fire insurance company.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• frivolous
• immaterial
• inconsequential
• insignificant
• irrelevant
• meaningless
• negligible
• null
• trivial
• unnecessary
• useless
• worthless