cut your coat according to your cloth

cut (one's) coat according to (one's) cloth

To shop or act in accordance with one's financial limitations. You'll go bankrupt unless you start cutting your coat according to your cloth.

cut your coat according to your cloth

undertake only what you have the money or ability to do and no more. proverb

ˌcut your ˈcoat acˌcording to your ˈcloth

(saying) do only what you have enough money to do and no more: This has not been a good year for us financially, and we must be prepared to cut our coat according to our cloth.

See also: accord, cloth, coat, cut

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive ?

We were taught to 'cut your coat according to your cloth.' It appears our finance minister has been following this in a reverse fashion.

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There is no doubt that all the bad impacts that may result from the large influx of refugees as well as the financial problems, local and federal councils, and provinces will now all shrink based on the "cut your coat according to your cloth" strategy.

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So therein lies the perceived problem of 'expensive' housing - you have to cut your coat according to your cloth.

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Have they never heard the phrase "Cut your coat according to your cloth"?

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'Cut your coat according to your cloth' is a saying she often reminds parents.

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"You have to cut your coat according to your cloth and Red Wine is our highest-rated horse.

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Much as with all these things, you have to cut your coat according to your cloth.

Culture: Stratford gets back to basics

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