Phrase guide

tighten one's belt

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be more frugal; to make difficult economic savings due to a lowering of expected income.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • In the current crisis, we will have to tighten our belts.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tighten the purse strings

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

live frugally and use less resources

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • In the new economy, we all have to learn to tighten our belts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: save, economize, economise

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Cebuano: hugot sa bakos — be more frugal
  • Dutch: de broekriem aanhalen — be more frugal
  • Finnish: kiristää vyötään — be more frugal
  • French: se serrer la ceinture — be more frugal
  • German: den Gürtel enger schnallen — be more frugal
  • Greek: σφίγγω το ζωνάρι (sfíngo to zonári) — be more frugal
  • Hungarian: meghúzza a nadrágszíjat — be more frugal
  • Hungarian: összehúzza a nadrágszíjat — be more frugal
  • Polish: zaciskać pasa — be more frugal
  • Polish: zacisnąć pasa — be more frugal
  • Russian: затяну́ть реме́нь поту́же (zatjanútʹ reménʹ potúže) — be more frugal
  • Spanish: apretarse el cinturón — be more frugal
  • Swedish: dra åt svångremmen — be more frugal
  • Tagalog: maghigpit ng sinturon — be more frugal
  • Turkish: kemer sıkmak — be more frugal