thin budget

USAGE SUMMARY

"thin budget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a budget that is very limited in funds or resources. Example: The company had a very thin budget for the project, so they had to find creative ways to keep costs low.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It was a strong showing for a team that is running on a thin budget, had limited offseason testing and so far plans to run only five of the 13 events in the inaugural season.

Independent

The cartoonish characters and cliched cop dialogue aren't helped by an obviously thin budget, which limits the period detail to charity shop threads, vintage cars and badly lit streets.

The Guardian - Film

But that's a fantasy that could be very risky, especially for artists on a thin budget.

TechCrunch

Despite a somewhat rocky start and a thin budget, the duo and their team managed to turn what was a failing business into, well, not exactly a raging success.

TechCrunch

As anyone who has every tried to balance uni, rent, bills and managing to feed yourself knows, higher Sunday wages are often the only thing keeping a very thin budget together.

Vice

On the surface, this post-collegiate sabbatical sounds exotic, but apart from happening on the other side of the equator, it was your typical 20-something's tale of life in the big city on a thin budget.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And with such thin budgets, the losses have a greater relative impact on what survives.

The Guardian - Sport

With thin budgets, government health programs are no match for infections given new momentum by increasing poverty, stress, alcoholism, overcrowding and intravenous drug use.

The New York Times - Science

"And with such thin budgets, the losses have a greater relative impact on what survives". So with no female Team Sky our homegrown talent will, like Cooke, have to go abroad for training.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No matter how much we hail democracy on the Fourth of July, come November, elections are just another government service: In communities where thin budgets and lax leadership produce scant bus service, slow ambulance response times and unkempt parks, we should not be surprised to find confusing ballots, bad instructions at the polls and slow vote tabulation.

The Washington Post

I little anticipated the memories that would be stirred by my recent reference to the economic migrants who came annually from the outer isles of Scotland to replenish the thin budgets which crofting provided, even when it was supported by the tweed looms of the Hebrides or the Fair Isle knitting of Shetland.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project or organization's financial situation, use "thin budget" to succinctly convey that resources are limited and careful management is required.

Common error

Avoid using "thin budget" when the budget is simply smaller than desired but still substantial. "Thin" implies a severe limitation that could affect operations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thin budget" functions as a noun phrase, where "thin" modifies the noun "budget". It describes a budget that is limited in size or resources. Ludwig AI validates this usage as correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thin budget" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to describe a situation where financial resources are limited. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase and its usability in written English. While alternatives like "limited funds" or "shoestring budget" exist, "thin budget" strikes a balance between formality and clarity, making it suitable for various contexts. However, it's important to ensure that the budget is truly constrained before using this phrase to avoid overstatement. Its usage is most prevalent in "News & Media" and academic contexts. When composing content, consider if it is really a serious shortage of money or other resource or just less of them.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited funds

Focuses on the scarcity of money available.

shoestring budget

Emphasizes the severely limited nature of the budget.

tight financial resources

Highlights the constrained nature of the financial resources.

meager financial plan

Emphasizes the insufficiency of the financial plan.

underfunded project

Focuses on the lack of adequate funding for a specific project.

scarce financial backing

Highlights the limited support in terms of financial resources.

restricted budget

Focuses on the limitation imposed on the budget.

lean financial allocation

Emphasizes the efficiency and lack of excess in the budget allocation.

minimal expenditure allowance

Highlights the small amount allowed for spending.

austere budgetary conditions

Indicates strict and limiting financial circumstances.

FAQs

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

You can use "thin budget" to describe a situation where there are limited financial resources available. For example, "The project suffered setbacks due to a "thin budget"".

What are some alternatives to saying "thin budget"?

Alternatives include "limited funds", "shoestring budget", or "tight financial resources" depending on the context.

Is "thin budget" a formal or informal expression?

"Thin budget" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "restricted financial resources" may be preferred in certain situations.

What's the difference between "thin budget" and "tight budget"?

While both imply limited funds, "thin budget" suggests a greater scarcity and potential for difficulty, whereas "tight budget" might simply mean careful spending is necessary.