I cannot afford a new car right now.
can’t afford sth
idiomto not have enough money to pay for something, or to not be able to do something because it would cause problems later.
We really want to go on that vacation, but we cannot afford the high cost of flights this year.
Although the promotion offered a higher salary, she realized she still could not afford the lifestyle changes that her new social circle expected.
Last updated April 22, 2026