How do you use "Tighten one's belt" in a sentence?

We'll have to tighten our belts this year. The company is tightening its belt. Time to tighten the belt after Christmas.

Tighten one's belt

Q: What does "Tighten one's belt" mean?

To spend less money, economize To reduce spending and live more frugally. The belt-tightening image is of eating less (smaller stomach = looser belt needing tightening).

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: To spend less money, economize

减少开支，节约

Gastar menos dinero, economizar

出費を減らす、節約する

지출을 줄이다, 절약하다

To reduce spending and live more frugally. The belt-tightening image is of eating less (smaller stomach = looser belt needing tightening).

减少开支，过更节俭的生活。'勒紧裤腰带'的形象来自于少吃东西（胃变小＝裤带松了需要勒紧）。

Reducir el gasto y vivir de forma más frugal. La imagen de apretarse el cinturón viene de comer menos (estómago más pequeño = cinturón más flojo que hay que apretar).

支出を減らしてもっと質素に暮らすこと。ベルトを締めるイメージは、食べる量を減らすこと（胃が小さくなる＝緩くなったベルトを締め直す）から来ている。

지출을 줄이고 더 검소하게 생활하는 것. 덜 먹어서 배가 줄어들면 벨트를 조여야 하는 이미지에서 유래했다.

Examples

We'll have to tighten our belts this year.
今年我们得勒紧裤腰带了
Este año tendremos que apretarnos el cinturón
今年は節約しなければならない
올해는 허리띠를 졸라매야 한다.
The company is tightening its belt.
公司在缩减开支
La empresa se está apretando el cinturón
その会社は経費を削減している
그 회사는 경비를 절감하고 있다.
Time to tighten the belt after Christmas.
圣诞节过后该节省了
Hora de apretarse el cinturón después de Navidad
クリスマスの後は倹約の時期だ
크리스마스 이후에는 절약할 때다.

Pronunciation

/ˈtaɪtən belt/

Usage Guide

Context: budgeting, austerity, economizing

Tone: resigned, practical

✓ Do Say

Tighten our belts
勒紧裤腰带
Apretarnos el cinturón
ベルトを締める＝節約する
허리띠를 졸라매다
Belt-tightening
紧缩开支
Apretón de cinturón
節約、緊縮
긴축 절약

✗ Don't Say

Very common expression
非常常见的表达
Expresión muy común
非常に一般的な表現
매우 흔한 표현

Common Mistakes

None—universally understood

Origin & History

From the physical effect of eating less—when you can't afford food, you get thinner and need to tighten your belt. Used figuratively for financial austerity.

Etymology: From needing to tighten belt when eating less

First recorded: Early 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Early 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Austerity discussions; Economic news

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Tighten one's beltBelt-tightening