strapped for

Idioms

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.

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.

And in a city strapped for cash but drowning in ultrawealthy residents, the checks are rolling in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 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

Combs' lawyer Anna Estevao seemed to imply Mrs Ventura was strapped for cash before filing her lawsuit.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

County firefighters a bit of a break, but it also could create additional concerns farther west in a region already strapped for resources.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025

This year, paying Enrique’s smuggler has left her strapped for money.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023