on a shoestring
1. 小本经营地
I've been living on a shoestring since my father stopped sending me money.
自从父亲不再给我寄钱后, 我便靠小本经营维生。
习惯用语on a shoestring1.■[美口]以极少的资金或不用资金tie one's own shoestrings1.■[美口]自己照顾自己unworthy to tie his shoestrings1.■给他结鞋带都不配walk on one's shoestrings1.■[美口]陷入贫困, 缺衣少穿