# strapped

/ˈstɹæpt/ (US) · /stɹˈæpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/strapped
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. short of money

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

having very little money at the moment.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' and a noun like 'cash', 'money', or 'time'.

### 2. carrying a weapon

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

carrying a gun or another weapon.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: This sense is very common in hip-hop culture and urban slang; it should be used with caution in professional settings.

### 3. muscular

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

having a strong, muscular body.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. held by straps

adjective · CEFR B1

fastened or held in place with a strap.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I'm a bit strapped for cash this week.
- Many students find themselves financially strapped toward the end of the semester after paying for textbooks and rent.
- Even though the company reported high revenue, it remained cash-strapped due to significant overhead costs and delayed payments from its primary international clients.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.