shoestring

adj.小本经营的；微小的；像鞋带一样狭长的

n.鞋带；零星资本；小额资本

The agency was a shoestring operation at first. 这家经销店刚开始时是小本经营的生意。

The club exists on a shoestring budget. 这家具乐部靠一点小钱艰难度日。

The little boy was fumbling with a shoestring. 小男孩在笨手笨脚地系鞋带。

I want to hold up to my badminton opponet in order to tie my shoestring. 我要求我的羽毛球对手等一下，以便我系鞋带。

I've been living on a shoestring since my mother stopped sending me money. 我的母亲停止给我寄钱之后，我的日子过得非常寒酸。

He started his business on a shoestring. 他以小资本开始做生意。