Strapped for Cash Comes From Being Tied Down
A strap is a narrow strip of flexible material. The phrase about being short of money uses the image of restraint.
A strap is a narrow strip of leather or other flexible material used to fasten or carry. *Strapped for cash* borrows the image of being bound: someone strapped is tied down and cannot move freely, which is exactly how a shortage of money feels. The phrase is American, from the 1800s. *Strap* is a variant of *strop*, the leather band used for sharpening razors, and both come from Latin *stroppus*, a thong.
- A fastening strip. *A watch strap.*
- To fasten. *Strap it down.*
- Strapped — short of money. *Strapped for cash.*
- Strop — a razor band. *A leather strop.*
- Latin — *stroppus*, a thong. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | strap | A strap. |
| Plural | straps | Straps. |
| Verb | strap | Strap it. |
| Adjective | strapping | A strapping lad. |
| Variant | strop | A strop. |
- The bag has an adjustable strap.Object.
- Strap the load to the roof.Verb.
- We are strapped for cash.Idiom.
Strap words
- Strapped — short of money, or fastened down
- Strapping — of a person, sturdily built
- Bootstrap — the loop for pulling boots on, and a computing term
- Strop — a razor-sharpening band, and British slang for a sulk
- Backstrap — a cut of meat along the spine
A variant of *strop*, from Old English *strop*, from Latin *stroppus*, a thong or band.
Where does strapped for cash come from?
From the image of being tied down and unable to move freely. The phrase is American, from the nineteenth century.
Are strap and bootstrap related?
Yes. A bootstrap is the loop on a boot, and pulling yourself up by them gave computing its startup term.