cut one's cloth to suit one's purse
To settle for less when money or resources are limited.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We must cut our cloth to suit our purse this month.”
“Since the company budget was reduced, we had to cut our cloth to suit our purse and cancel the event.”
“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.”
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 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”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026