squeeze their finances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "squeeze their finances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is putting financial pressure on another person or entity, often in a context of budgeting or financial management. Example: "The new tax regulations are likely to squeeze their finances, making it difficult for them to invest in growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

People's disposable incomes are already in reverse but to squeeze their finances further through increased mortgage payments could be the coup de grace for both confidence and the economy.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The shutdown has squeezed their finances during what has been one of the busiest and most stressful periods in recent years at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Washington Post

Some claimed that sending the money back would squeeze their ability to finance health and education properly.

The Economist

At that point, "households will be so squeezed in their finances, and businesses will also reach a point where they, too, will begin to cut back on spending in anticipation of the economy really going to get hit".

The New York Times

Care homes are enduring an unprecedented squeeze on their finances.

The Guardian - Business

Economists warned that with inflation at 2.7% and likely to stay above 2%, workers faced a squeeze on their finances that would send more retailers to the wall and restrict the economy's recovery.

The Guardian - Business

Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit, said: "December's survey suggests that a rising proportion of UK households are hopeful that the squeeze on their finances will begin to subside during 2014.

The Guardian - Business

"That is absolutely the same as the average English reduction, which is 1.3%." In a recent report, the local government spending watchdog said the majority of councils had coped well with the squeeze on their finances since 2010, by making efficiencies and reducing staff numbers, but warned things could get tougher.

BBC

With their finances squeezed, euro zone governments and banks need to raise an estimated 1.9 trillion euros ($2.43 trillion) in new financing in 2012 alone — most of it before April.

The New York Times

Town halls have seen their finances squeezed due to a sharp fall in grant funding from Whitehall and a three-year freeze in council tax, where councils are offered financial incentives not to raise bills.

BBC

Mr Cameron said: "This is about helping all families, but particularly those families that do feel their finances are squeezed, "I want to give families greater stability, greater peace of mind, greater security.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "squeeze their finances", consider the specific context to determine if a more precise term like "reduce their budget" or "strain their resources" would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "squeeze their finances" in very informal or casual conversations; opt for simpler language like "make things tight" or "cut back on spending" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "squeeze their finances" functions as a verb phrase where the verb "squeeze" acts upon the noun phrase "their finances". It typically describes an action that reduces or limits financial resources. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "squeeze their finances" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of limiting or reducing someone's financial resources. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and business contexts. While alternatives like "tighten their belts" or "reduce their expenditure" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and specificity. When writing, consider the audience and context to avoid overuse in casual conversations. Major news sources such as The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Economist frequently employ the phrase, indicating its acceptance in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put pressure on their finances

Directly indicates applying financial stress or difficulty.

tighten their belts

Refers to reducing spending due to financial constraints, similar to squeezing finances but more idiomatic.

reduce their expenditure

Focuses on lowering the amount of money spent. More formal and direct.

cut their budget

Implies a planned reduction in available funds. More specific to budgeting contexts.

strain their resources

Highlights the difficulty in managing limited funds. Emphasizes the pressure on available resources.

limit their funds

Focuses on restricting the amount of money available. Simpler and more direct.

restrict their spending

Highlights the act of limiting how much money is spent. More focused on spending habits.

impact their financial stability

Indicates a potential threat to long-term financial health. More formal and concerned with overall financial condition.

reduce their financial flexibility

Indicates a decrease in the ability to adapt to changing financial needs. More abstract and concerned with adaptability.

affect their bottom line

Focuses on the impact to profits or overall financial result.

FAQs

How can I use "squeeze their finances" in a sentence?

You can use "squeeze their finances" to describe situations where financial resources are being reduced or strained, such as, "The economic downturn will likely "squeeze their finances", forcing them to make difficult choices."

What are some alternatives to "squeeze their finances"?

Alternatives include "tighten their belts", "reduce their expenditure", or "cut their budget". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "squeeze their finances" formal or informal?

"Squeeze their finances" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for news articles, business reports, and professional discussions, but might sound slightly out of place in very informal settings.

What does it mean to "squeeze their finances"?

To "squeeze their finances" means to reduce the amount of money available or to put pressure on someone's financial resources, often leading to hardship or difficult financial decisions.