strapped for

Idioms  

1. In need of, as in We're strapped for cash this week. Originating in the mid-1800s as simply strapped, meaning “in need of money,” the term acquired for in the first half of the 1900s. Now the term is also used for other needs, as in I can't give you any more firewood; I'm strapped for it myself.

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Example Sentences

Despite having assets above $900 billion, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is strapped for cash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Of course, if you’re strapped for cash, you might need to look elsewhere.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

These additional long-term obligations are another sign that Oracle will be “significantly strapped for capital” and could have difficulty maintaining its investment-grade credit rating, Luria wrote in a Friday note.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025

According to Berkowitz, he has been strapped for money since Day One.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024

The race in question was a forgettable weekday event for a trifling purse, but Blume was strapped for money.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand