2. a sum of money, inadequate or barely adequate for the purpose to which it is put to use; as, to start up an enterprise on a shoestring. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
shoestring — [sho͞ostriŋ΄] n. 1. SHOELACE ☆ 2. a small or barely adequate amount of capital [a business started on a shoestring] adj. 1. like a shoestring; long and narrow ☆ 2. of, operating on, or characterized by a small amount of money [a shoestring budget … English World dictionary
shoestring — If you do something on a shoestring, you try to spend the absolute minimum amount of money possible on it … The small dictionary of idiomes
shoestring — ► NOUN 1) N. Amer. a shoelace. 2) informal a small or inadequate budget: living on a shoestring … English terms dictionary
shoestring — shoe|string1 [ ʃu,strıŋ ] adjective 1. ) AMERICAN shoestring foods have been made into long thin pieces like string: shoestring potatoes 2. ) having or using a very small amount of money: a shoestring budget shoestring shoe|string 2 [ ʃu,strıŋ ]… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
shoestring — shoe|string [ˈʃu:ˌstrıŋ] n 1.) on a shoestring informal if you do something on a shoestring, you do it without spending much money run/operate/do sth on a shoestring ▪ The program was run on a shoestring. 2.) shoestring… … Dictionary of contemporary English
shoestring — I. noun Date: 1616 1. shoelace 2. [from shoestrings being a typical item sold by itinerant vendors] a small sum of money ; capital inadequate or barely adequate to the needs of a transaction < started the business on a shoestring > II. adjective… … New Collegiate Dictionary
Shoestring — A slang term used to describe a small amount of money that is considered to be inadequate for its intended purpose. A shoestring can be used in a number of idioms, such as: The company financed that last project on a shoestring, or Jim is living… … Investment dictionary
shoestring — n. (colloq.) limited funds on a shoestring (to operate a business on a shoestring) * * * [ ʃuːˌstrɪŋ] (colloq.) [ limited funds ] on a shoestring (to operate a business on a shoestring) … Combinatory dictionary
shoestring — [[t]ʃu͟ːstrɪŋ[/t]] shoestrings 1) N COUNT: usu pl Shoestrings are long, narrow pieces of material like pieces of string that you use to fasten your shoes. [AM] (in BRIT, use shoelaces) 2) ADJ: ADJ n A shoestring budget is one where you have very… … English dictionary
shoestring — noun 1 on a shoestring informal if you do something on a shoestring, you do it without spending much money: The program was run on a shoestring for years until they found a sponsor. | a movie that was made on a shoestring budget 2 AmE a shoelace … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
