| 释义 |
tighten one's belt, to tighten one's beltFig. to manage to spend less money; to use less of something. (See also (a notch)">take one's belt in (a notch).) Things are beginning to cost more and more. It looks like we'll all have to tighten our belts. Times are hard, and prices are high. I can tighten my belt for only so long.See also: belt, tightentighten one's beltSpend 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] See also: belt, tighten tighten (one's) belt To begin to exercise thrift and frugality.See also: belt, tightentighten one's belt, toTo be more frugal; to undergo adversity with patience. The analogy here is to tightening one’s belt after losing weight from going hungry. The London Observer of 1927 described “A traveling troupe who quoted Corneille while tightening their belts.”See also: tighten |