THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
On a shoestring
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Using a very small amount of money.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We organised the exhibition on a shoestring.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We organised the exhibition ________.
Show the answer
On a shoestring — Using a very small amount of money.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “On a shoestring” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Using a very small amount of money.
Compare: We organised the exhibition on a shoestring.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it informally for running a project, business or trip with very limited funds.
More examples in context
- The students travelled on a shoestring and stayed with friends.
- Our community group runs on a shoestring, so donated supplies help a lot.
Usage note
“On a shoestring budget” is a useful longer form. The idiom concerns limited money, not necessarily poor quality.
A short conversation
A: How did you make such an attractive display?
B: We did it on a shoestring with reused boards and donated paint.
A: It looks excellent.
One more practice question
What does running an event on a shoestring mean?
A. Running it with very little money.
B. Running it with unlimited funding.
Check your answer
A. A shoestring represents a very small budget.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.