on a budget — having only a small amount of money to spend; trying to spend as little money as possible
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: having only a small amount of money to spend; trying to spend as little money as possible
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɑːn ə ˈbʌdʒɪt/
Example Sentences
- My friend thinks eating ramen for 30 days straight is 'traveling on a budget' in Paris.
- College students are natural experts at living on a budget.
- She decorated her entire apartment on a budget of $200 and it looks like a magazine cover.
on a budget
ADVERB[/ɑːn ə ˈbʌdʒɪt/]
having only a small amount of money to spend; trying to spend as little money as possible
a young woman holds a small calculator in one hand while examining a can of food with the other. She carefully compares prices between the expensive brand and the cheaper generic version on the shelf. After checking her calculator, she puts back the expensive item and selects the budget-friendly option instead. Her shopping basket contains only essential items and store-brand products. A store employee nearby arranges discount stickers on marked-down items. someone having only a small amount of money to spend and trying to spend as little as possible
When you're on a budget, settle for some fudget!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'budget' originates from French 'bougette,' meaning 'small leather bag' or 'pouch.' The term evolved to mean a financial plan when European governments began presenting their financial documents to parliament in leather pouches, eventually metaphorically referring to the contents and plans themselves.
Breakdown
bougette (small leather pouch, from Old French bouge meaning bag) → budget (financial plan or allocation). The semantic shift occurred through metonymy, where the container (leather bag) came to represent its contents (financial documents and plans).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My friend thinks eating ramen for 30 days straight is 'traveling on a budget' in Paris.”
“College students are natural experts at living on a budget.”
“She decorated her entire apartment on a budget of $200 and it looks like a magazine cover.”
“Dating on a budget means picnic dates become 'romantic outdoor dining experiences'.”
📚Related Words
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