IdiomTopic: money

strapped for cash

/ˌstræpt fə ˈkæʃ/INFORMAL · C1

Meaning

short of money

Examples

1I am strapped for cash until my first salary arrives.
2The club felt strapped for cash after paying for a new roof.
3Could you lend me five pounds? I am strapped for cash until payday.
4Being strapped for cash, the school could not afford replacement textbooks.
5We were strapped for cash that month; even the bus fare was a struggle.

Grammar

An adjective phrase, commonly used after be or feel. Strapped stays in this form.

Similar in meaning

make ends meet on a shoestring

More idioms about money

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

rolling in itvery rich splash outto spend a lot of money on something special a nest eggmoney saved for the future money doesn't grow on treesmoney is limited, so you should not waste it penny-pinchingunwilling to spend money cost an arm and a legto be very expensive

English Idioms

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