ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cut one's cloth to suit one's purse

idiom
Meaning

To settle for less when money or resources are limited.


Examples
SIMPLE

We must cut our cloth to suit our purse this month.

CONTEXTUAL

Since the company budget was reduced, we had to cut our cloth to suit our purse and cancel the event.

COMPLEX

Faced with a sudden decline in their family fortune, they were forced to cut their cloth to suit their purse and move into a much smaller home.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

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