To reduce spending and live more frugally, usually due to financial constraints or economic hardship.
This phrase emerged in the early 1900s and became especially popular during the Great Depression. It literally refers to tightening one's belt when losing weight from eating less, metaphorically extended to financial restraint.
The physicality of this metaphor is particularly powerful because it connects financial discipline with bodily experience. During wartime rationing, the phrase took on literal meaning as people actually did tighten their belts from eating less, making the metaphor viscerally real.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.