meager budget

USAGE SUMMARY

'meager budget' is correct and can be used in written English.
Example: The government had to work with a meager budget to fund social services.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

We have a meager budget".

The New York Times

He was able to muster $250,000 in private money, a meager budget.

The New York Times - Arts

The government's meager budget can offer little help, and its enormous bureaucracy can discourage preservation.

The New York Times

Shuttering the Usich, meanwhile, would free up its relatively meager budget of about $3.5m.

The Guardian

My father held three jobs to make ends meet and my mother worried over our meager budget...

The New York Times

Now he had just $5 to his name, and my meager budget would have to cover us both.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

We've been operating on meager budgets for almost 100 years, and we'll continue to do so".

The New York Times

But officials in states without oil production argue that their relatively meager budgets would receive a much-needed boost from the legislation.

The New York Times

Shot on location, often on meager budgets, these films tapped into the city's cultural and social energies: its streets, its people, its artistic fervor.

The New York Times

The more fortunate ones have meager budgets that must be stretched creatively -- marketing spending is one of the first places where companies cut back.

The New York Times

The price of wind turbines and solar panels is plummeting, putting renewable energy within the reach of meager budgets in the developing world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing financial constraints in formal writing, consider using "meager budget" to clearly convey the limited resources available without being overly negative. For a more positive and professional alternative, use "modest budget".

Common error

Avoid using "meager budget" in contexts where a more positive or neutral tone is desired. In fundraising or grant proposals, focus on how the available resources will be used effectively, rather than dwelling on the limitations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager budget" functions as a noun phrase, where "meager" is an adjective modifying the noun "budget". Ludwig's AI indicates that it is correct and commonly used. The phrase typically appears as an object, subject complement, or within prepositional phrases, describing the financial limitations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "meager budget" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a limited amount of available funds. As Ludwig's AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, formal business, and academic settings. When writing, consider using this phrase to clearly convey financial limitations, but be mindful of the potential for a negative tone. Alternatives such as "small budget" or "modest budget" may be more appropriate in certain situations. The usage patterns reflect its prevalence in news and media, highlighting its relevance in discussions about financial constraints in real-world scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Small budget

Uses a more common synonym for "meager", maintaining the same structure.

Modest budget

Replaces "meager" with a more polite and understated adjective.

Tight budget

Indicates that the budget is restricted and carefully managed.

Bare-bones budget

Suggests the budget is reduced to the most essential elements.

Lean budget

Implies efficiency and frugality in managing the limited funds.

Limited funds

Focuses on the restriction of available money, omitting the 'budget' aspect.

Restricted funds

Highlights the limitation placed on the available money.

Inadequate funding

Shifts the focus to the lack of sufficient funding.

Limited resources

Broadens the scope to include other resources besides money.

Scarce financial resources

Emphasizes the scarcity of financial resources.

FAQs

How can I use "meager budget" in a sentence?

You can use "meager budget" to describe a situation where there are limited financial resources available, for example: "Despite a "meager budget", the team managed to complete the project successfully".

What are some alternatives to saying "meager budget"?

You can use alternatives like "small budget", "tight budget", or "modest budget" depending on the context and desired tone.

Is it better to say "meager budget" or "small budget"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""meager budget"" can sometimes sound more negative than "small budget". The best choice depends on the specific context and the tone you want to convey.

What does "meager" mean in the context of "meager budget"?

In the context of ""meager budget"", "meager" means deficient in quantity or quality; not adequate or sufficient. It emphasizes the limited and potentially inadequate nature of the budget.