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What Does “On a Shoestring” Mean?
The idiom “on a shoestring” means with very little money or a very small budget.
If someone does something on a shoestring, they manage to do it despite having limited financial resources.
Simple Definition:
On a shoestring = with very little money
This expression is commonly used in business, travel, filmmaking, and everyday life.
The phrase often collocates with “budget” and “live.”
- Shoestring Budget
- Live on a Shoestring
1. What Does “Shoestring Budget” Mean?
A shoestring budget refers to an extremely small amount of money available for a project, activity, or daily living expenses.
Examples:
- The film was produced on a shoestring budget.
- They launched their startup on a shoestring.
- We traveled across Europe on a shoestring budget.
The word shoestring in this context symbolizes something cheap and minimal.
2. What Does “Live on a Shoestring” Mean?
To live on a shoestring means to survive or manage daily life with very little money.
It often implies:
- Careful spending
- Budget control
- Financial discipline
Example:
- After graduating, she lived on a shoestring for two years.
Origin of “On a Shoestring”
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, one of the earliest recorded uses of the phrase appeared in 1882 in The Century Magazine:
“[He] could draw to a shoe-string, as the saying went, and obtain a tan-yard!”
The exact reason why shoestring came to represent a small amount of money is not entirely clear. However, one theory suggests that shoelaces were inexpensive, low-profit items. Because they were cheap and minimal, the word gradually became associated with scarcity and limited funds.
Over time, the expression evolved into:
- on a shoestring
- on a shoestring budget
- live on a shoestring
- get by on a shoestring
Today, it clearly refers to operating with financial constraints.
You may also want to read this story about the origin of the phrase on the Merriam-Webster website
Common Collocations
The idiom frequently appears in these forms:
- ✔️ Be on a shoestring
- ✔️ Be on a shoestring budget
- ✔️ Live on a shoestring
- ✔️ Get by on a shoestring
- ✔️ Do something on a shoestring
Example Sentences
- The company started on a shoestring budget.
- They filmed the documentary on a shoestring.
- We lived on a shoestring while saving for a house.
- The charity operates on a shoestring budget.
- He built his business on a shoestring and hard work.
Mini Practice Exercise
Choose the correct option:
- She started her business on a _______.
a) necklace
b) shoestring - They traveled across the country on a shoestring _______.
a) wallet
b) budget - Living on a shoestring means living with:
a) very little money
b) expensive tastes - The charity operates on a shoestring _______.
a) budget
b) suitcase - After college, he had to _______ on a shoestring.
a) get by
b) decorate - The startup managed to get by on a shoestring _______.
a) calendar
b) budget - I’d really like to go out to dinner, but I _______ on a bit of a shoestring at the moment
a) am
b) get
2. b) budget
3. a) very little money
4. a) budget
5. a) get by
6. b) budget
7. a) am
Related Expressions
You may also hear similar expressions such as:
- Make ends meet
- Tight budget
- Barely get by
- Cut corners
Frequently Asked Questions About “On a Shoestring”
What does “shoestring” mean?
The word shoestring literally refers to a thin lace used to tie shoes.
However, in idiomatic English, shoestring means a very small amount of money, especially when describing a budget.
Example:
– The film was made on a shoestring.
What does “shoestring budget” mean?
A shoestring budget means an extremely limited amount of money available for a project or activity.
When something is done on a shoestring budget, it is done:
– cheaply
– with minimal resources
– with careful spending
Example:
– They opened the restaurant on a shoestring budget.
What does “live on a shoestring” mean?
To live on a shoestring means to manage your daily life with very little money.
It suggests:
– financial discipline
– limited spending
– careful budgeting
Example:
– After losing his job, he had to live on a shoestring.
What does “get by on a shoestring budget” mean?
To get by on a shoestring budget means to survive or succeed despite having very limited financial resources.
Example:
– The nonprofit gets by on a shoestring budget thanks to volunteers.
– The phrase emphasizes resourcefulness and creativity in difficult financial situations.
What is the origin of “living on a shoestring”?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, one of the earliest recorded uses of the expression dates back to 1882.
The exact origin is uncertain, but one explanation suggests that shoelaces were inexpensive, low-profit items. Because they were cheap and minimal, the word shoestring became associated with small amounts of money.
Over time, the expression evolved to mean operating or living with limited funds.
Is “on a shoestring” positive or negative?
It depends on context.
– It can be negative if it describes financial struggle.
– It can be positive if it highlights creativity and determination despite limited resources.
Example (positive):
– She built a successful company on a shoestring.
Final Thoughts
The idiom “on a shoestring” is commonly used to describe situations where money is limited but determination is strong. Whether someone starts a business, travels, or manages daily life on a shoestring, the expression highlights resourcefulness despite financial constraints.
This idiom is in the clothes category.
