tighten Idiom, Proverb

tighten one

economize, spend less We will have to tighten our belts for awhile until the economy improves.

tighten our belts

not spend as much, be careful with our money We'll have to tighten our belts when Stan goes on pension.

tighten one's belt

Idiom(s): tighten one's belt

Theme: FINANCIAL

to manage to spend less money.
• Things are beginning to cost more and more. It looks as if well all have to tighten our belts.
• Times are hard, and prices are high. I can tighten my belt for only so long.

Tighten your belt

If you have to tighten your belt, you have to economise.

tighten one's belt|belt|tighten

v. phr. To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things. When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts. Often used in the expression "tighten one's belt another notch". When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had to tighten their belts another notch.

tighten the screws|screw|screws|tighten

v. phr. To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure. When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent four times.

tighten the screws

tighten the screws
see under turn up the heat on.

More Idioms/Phrases

tight as a drum tight rein on, a tighten the screws tightrope tile till till all hours tilt