shoestring
/'ʃu:striɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A very small amount of money: Refers to a minimal or barely adequate sum of money, especially for starting or operating something.
- A lace for fastening a shoe: A long, thin cord used to tie and secure a shoe.
Usage and Examples
Noun (Small amount of money):
- They started the business on a shoestring. (They began the company with very little capital.)
- The film was made on a shoestring budget. (The movie was produced with extremely limited funds.)
Noun (Shoe lace):
- He bent down to tie his shoestring. (He leaned over to fasten the lace of his shoe.)
- My shoestring came undone while I was running. (The lace on my shoe became untied during my run.)
Advanced Usage
"On a shoestring": An adverbial phrase meaning with very little money.
- The charity operates on a shoestring. (The charity functions with minimal financial resources.)
"Shoestring catch" (Baseball): A catch made very close to the ground.
- The outfielder made a spectacular shoestring catch. (The outfielder caught the ball just before it hit the ground.)
Variants and Related Words
- Shoestring potatoes: (Noun) Thinly sliced potatoes that are deep-fried.
- We ordered a side of shoestring fries. (We ordered a portion of very thin French fries.)
Synonyms
- For "small amount of money": Pittance, meager sum, limited funds.
- For "shoe lace": Lace, bootlace, string.
Related Phrases
- Tied to a shoestring: (Informal) To be controlled or limited by a very small budget.
- The entire project is tied to a shoestring, so we must be frugal. (The project has severe budget constraints.)
Idioms
- To pull oneself up by one's (own) bootstraps/shoestrings: To improve one's situation by one's own efforts, without external help.
- He pulled himself up by his shoestrings to become successful. (He succeeded through his own hard work and determination, starting from nothing.)
Noun
- a small amount of money
- he managed it on a shoestring
- a lace used for fastening shoes