Word
strapped
US/ˈstɹæpt/
UK/stɹˈæpt/
Definitions
01short of money
adj. having very little money at the moment.
adj. experiencing a temporary or chronic lack of financial resources. Often used in the phrase 'strapped for cash'.
“I'd love to go to the cinema, but I'm a bit strapped for cash until payday.”
“The startup found itself severely strapped for capital after the initial round of funding was exhausted by unforeseen research and development costs.”
Informal
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' and a noun like 'cash', 'money', or 'time'.
02carrying a weapon
adj. carrying a gun or another weapon.
adj. armed with a firearm or other weapon, typically concealed on the person.
“In many action movies, the main character is always strapped and ready for a fight.”
“The undercover officers remained strapped throughout the operation, ensuring they could defend themselves if the situation turned violent.”
Slang
Teaching tip
This sense is very common in hip-hop culture and urban slang; it should be used with caution in professional settings.
Antonyms
03muscular
adj. having a strong, muscular body.
adj. possessing a well-defined, muscular physique.
“He has been spending hours at the gym and is looking really strapped lately.”
“The lead actor underwent a rigorous six-month training programme to appear sufficiently strapped for his role as a professional athlete.”
Informal · Slang
04held by straps
adj. fastened or held in place with a strap.
adj. secured, fastened, or supported by one or more straps.
“She wore a pair of strapped sandals that were perfect for walking on the beach.”
“The technician ensured the heavy equipment was securely strapped to the pallet before the cargo plane took off.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The two pals reconnect over such staples of Texas life as huntin’, fishin’, rodeo-ridin’ and returning from a car journey with the bloody corpse of the deer you ran over strapped to the roof.” “Little is known of how cash strapped the women’s setup is compared with other WSL sides.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/strapped