shoestring
Americannoun
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another word for shoelace
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informal
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a very small or petty amount of money (esp in the phrase on a shoestring )
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( as modifier )
a shoestring budget
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Etymology
Origin of shoestring
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.
The French onion soup arrives deeply savory beneath a cap of melted cheese, while the steak frites pairs a grilled bavette steak with crisp shoestring fries and rich béarnaise.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
"Back in the day, it was difficult because you're working on a shoestring budget, trying to make things happen," says Painter.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Silicon Valley startups are setting up open models, with some operating on shoestring budgets because of limited interest from venture capitalists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
And it’s quite amazing that he made that kind of on a shoestring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026
Bingham had never before sold to an individual company, let alone a shoestring operation on Sheriff Street.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
