tighten one's belt

Idioms  

1. Spend less, be more frugal, as in Business has been bad, so we'll have to tighten our belts. This metaphoric term alludes to pulling in one's belt after losing weight from not having enough to eat. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tighten one's belt

I've been hungry many a time, but now I know what it means to have to tighten one's belt.

From Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force by Ernest Prater

There was nothing to do except to tighten one's belt, and to write editorials showing up the selfishness of the farming class and prophesying the improvement of the currency.

From The Creed of the Old South 1865-1915 by Basil L. (Basil Lanneau) Gildersleeve

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Related Words

• conserve
• cut down
• scrimp

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