How do you use "Strapped for cash" in a sentence?

I'd love to go, but I'm a little strapped for cash this month. A lot of families are strapped for cash after the holidays. We're strapped for cash until the next funding round comes through.

Strapped for cash

Q: What does "Strapped for cash" mean?

Short on money; having very limited funds. Being 'strapped for cash' means you're tight on money but not necessarily penniless. It's a temporary state — you have some money, but not enough for what you need. It's politer and less dramatic than 'broke.'

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

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Meaning: Short on money; having very limited funds.

手头紧；资金非常有限。

Corto de dinero; tener fondos muy limitados.

お金が足りないこと。手持ちが少ないこと。

돈이 부족한 상태. 수중에 돈이 별로 없는 것.

Being 'strapped for cash' means you're tight on money but not necessarily penniless. It's a temporary state — you have some money, but not enough for what you need. It's politer and less dramatic than 'broke.'

'Strapped for cash'意思是手头紧但不一定是身无分文。这是一种暂时状态——你有一些钱，但不够用。比'broke'更礼貌，也没那么夸张。

Estar 'strapped for cash' significa ir justo de dinero, pero no necesariamente estar sin blanca. Es un estado temporal: tienes algo de dinero, pero no suficiente para lo que necesitas. Es más educado y menos dramático que 'broke'.

「strapped for cash」はお金に余裕がないが、必ずしも無一文ではないという意味。一時的な状態で、いくらかはあるが必要な分には足りない。「broke」よりも丁寧で大げさでない表現。

'strapped for cash'는 돈이 빠듯하지만 완전히 무일푼은 아닌 상태를 의미한다. 일시적인 상태로, 돈이 아예 없진 않지만 필요한 만큼은 없는 것이다. 'broke'보다 정중하고 덜 극적인 표현이다.

Examples

I'd love to go, but I'm a little strapped for cash this month.
我很想去，但这个月手头有点紧。
Me encantaría ir, pero este mes ando un poco justo de dinero.
行きたいんだけど、今月ちょっとお金がなくてさ。
가고 싶은데, 이번 달은 좀 돈이 빠듯해서.
A lot of families are strapped for cash after the holidays.
过完节很多家庭都手头紧张。
Muchas familias andan cortas de dinero después de las fiestas.
年末年始の後は多くの家庭が金欠になる。
연말연시 이후에는 많은 가정이 돈이 부족해진다.
We're strapped for cash until the next funding round comes through.
在下一轮融资到位之前，我们资金紧张。
Andamos justos de dinero hasta que llegue la siguiente ronda de financiación.
次の資金調達が決まるまで、お金に余裕がないんだ。
다음 투자 유치가 될 때까지 자금이 빠듯해.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: polite refusals, budgeting, casual conversation

Tone: apologetic, honest

✓ Do Say

I'm a bit strapped for cash.
我最近手头有点紧。
Ando un poco justo de dinero.
ちょっとお金に余裕がなくてね。
좀 돈이 빠듯해.
We're strapped right now.
我们现在钱不太够用。
Ahora mismo andamos justos.
今うちは金欠なんだ。
지금 자금이 좀 부족해.

✗ Don't Say

More polite than 'broke' — good for declining invitations without sounding desperate
比'broke'更礼貌——适合用来婉拒邀请，不会显得太窘迫
Más educado que 'broke' — bueno para rechazar invitaciones sin sonar desesperado
「broke」より丁寧——必死に聞こえずに誘いを断るのに適している
'broke'보다 정중한 표현 — 절박하게 들리지 않으면서 초대를 정중히 거절할 때 좋다

Origin & History

From 'strapped' meaning bound or constrained. Being 'strapped' for something means lacking it. Used in American English since the early 1800s. Less dramatic than 'broke' — implies tightness rather than emptiness.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 1800s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal