Directions: Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence. To restart his cash-strapped company he decided to apply for a bank loan.
impoverished
Understanding the Idiom: Cash-Strapped
The question asks us to determine the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom "cash-strapped" as used in the sentence: "To restart his cash-strapped company he decided to apply for a bank loan."
Let's break down the idiom "cash-strapped".
- Cash: Refers to money, especially ready money.
- Strapped: When used in this context, "strapped" implies being restricted, limited, or tied up, often due to a lack of something. Think of being "strapped for cash".
Putting these together, "cash-strapped" suggests a situation where there is a severe limitation or lack of cash or money. Someone or something that is cash-strapped has very little money.
Analyzing the Sentence Context
The sentence provides a crucial context. The company is described as "cash-strapped", and because of this condition, the owner decided to "apply for a bank loan" to "restart" the company. Applying for a bank loan is a common action taken when an individual or a business needs money. Needing money to restart a company implies that the company is not doing well financially and lacks the necessary funds to operate or recover.
This context strongly supports the idea that "cash-strapped" means being in a difficult financial situation due to lack of money.
Evaluating the Options
Now let's look at the given options and see which one best fits the meaning of "cash-strapped" in this context:
- improving: This means getting better. A company that is improving financially would likely not need a bank loan to restart. This meaning does not fit "cash-strapped".
- expensive: This means costing a lot of money. While a company might be expensive to run, "cash-strapped" describes its financial state, not necessarily its operating cost. This meaning does not fit.
- impoverished: This means made poor or reduced to poverty. In a business context, it means having very little money or resources. This aligns perfectly with the idea of lacking cash and needing a loan to restart. This meaning fits "cash-strapped".
- expanding: This means growing in size or scope. An expanding company might need a loan for investment, but being "cash-strapped" usually implies financial difficulty, not necessarily growth. This meaning does not fit.
Based on the analysis of the idiom and the sentence context, the most appropriate meaning for "cash-strapped" is "impoverished".
Conclusion on the Idiom Meaning
The idiom "cash-strapped" is used to describe a person, company, or entity that has very little money and is facing financial difficulties. The need to apply for a bank loan to restart the company in the sentence is a direct consequence of the company being cash-strapped.
Therefore, the meaning 'impoverished' accurately describes the state of being severely short of money or financially weak, which is the meaning of 'cash-strapped'.
| Idiom | Context in Sentence | Meaning Implied by Context | Most Suitable Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash-strapped | Company needing a bank loan to restart | Having very little money, facing financial difficulty | Impoverished |
Revision Table: Understanding Idioms and Vocabulary
| Term/Concept | Explanation | Example/Context |
|---|---|---|
| Idiom | A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of its separate words. | "Cash-strapped", "break a leg", "piece of cake" |
| Cash-strapped | Having very little money; facing financial difficulty. | A cash-strapped student might work part-time. |
| Impoverished | Made poor; deprived of money or resources. | The war left the country impoverished. |
| Context Clues | Hints in the surrounding text that help determine the meaning of a word or phrase. | The mention of a "bank loan" helps understand "cash-strapped". |
Additional Information: Financial Terms and Idioms
Understanding financial idioms and vocabulary is important for comprehending various texts, especially in business or economics. Here are a few related concepts:
- Financially Sound: The opposite of cash-strapped; having enough money and being in a stable financial state.
- In the Red: Operating at a loss; spending more money than is being earned.
- In the Black: Operating at a profit; earning more money than is being spent.
- On a Shoestring Budget: Operating with very little money or resources. This is similar in meaning to cash-strapped but often implies a deliberate attempt to save money rather than necessarily being in dire straits.
- Liquid Assets: Money or assets that can be easily converted into cash. A cash-strapped entity lacks sufficient liquid assets.
Learning idioms like "cash-strapped" by using context clues helps improve vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Important Questions from Phrase or Idiom Meaning
Directions:Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Bone of contention
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To eat humble pie
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Like a cakewalk
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To beat about the bush
Select the option that means the same as the given idiom.
A stone’s throw away
