thắt lưng buộc bụng
[tʰat̚˧˦ lɨŋ˧˧ ʔɓuək̚˧˨ʔ ʔɓʊwŋ͡m˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to tighten one's belt, or more extremely, to be forced into austerity by the government
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
chính sách thắt lưng buộc bụng(an) austerity (policy)
Kinh tế suy thoái, phải thắt lưng buộc bụng.We had to tighten our belts amid the economic recession.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “thắt lưng buộc bụng” mean?
(verb) to tighten one's belt, or more extremely, to be forced into austerity by the government
Is “thắt lưng buộc bụng” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.