English idiom · informal · spoken & written · BrE & AmE
on a shoestring: meaning and examples
on a shoestring means using a very small amount of money.
Suele aparecer después de un verbo: «travel on a shoestring». También es frecuente «a shoestring budget».
اغلب پس از فعل میآید: «travel on a shoestring». ترکیب «a shoestring budget» نیز رایج است.
Die Wendung steht oft nach einem Verb: „travel on a shoestring“. Häufig ist auch „a shoestring budget“.
Elle suit souvent un verbe : « travel on a shoestring ». On rencontre aussi fréquemment « a shoestring budget ».
Memory hook: Imagine a budget as thin as a shoelace.
How to use “on a shoestring”
- We travelled around Europe on a shoestring.
- She started the business on a shoestring.
- They made the film on a shoestring budget.
Common mistake: Use on, not with: “We travelled on a shoestring.” Before budget, omit on: “a shoestring budget”.
Learn it in context
This expression belongs to Lesson 3, where you can compare it with other idioms about money and practise it interactively.
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