Tighten one's belt
Slang Term
BritishAmericanAustralian
★★★★★ Very Common
Neutral
含义: 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.
例句
- 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.
发音
/ˈtaɪtən belt/
用法指南
语境: budgeting, austerity, economizing
语气: resigned, practical
✓ 正确说法
- 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
✗ 错误说法
- 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
常见错误
- None—universally understood
起源与历史
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.
词源: From needing to tighten belt when eating less
最早记录: Early 20th century
文化背景
Era: Early 20th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Austerity discussions; Economic news
Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.
变体
Tighten one's beltBelt-tightening
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