tighten one's belt
tighten one's belt another notch
To live on less money than usual; use less food and other things.
Жить в ситуации, когда в распоряжении есть меньше денег (достатка) чем обычно; "затянуть пояс".
When father lost his job we had to tighten our belts.
Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!
Ещё один счёт? Мне придется затянуть пояс потуже в этом месяце!
I lost my job yesterday so now I need to tighten my belt.
Вчера я потерял работу, так что теперь придётся затянуть пояса.
Often used in the expression tighten one's belt another notch.
When the husband lost his job, the Smiths had to do without many things, but when their savings were all spent, they had to tighten their belts another notch.
tighten the screws
To try to make someone do something by making it more and more difficult not to do it; apply pressure.
When many students still missed class after he began giving daily quizzes, the teacher tightened the screws by failing anyone absent four times.
till the cows come home
Until sunset; until the last.
До заката; до конца.
The women in the country used to sit in the spinning room making yarn out of skeins of wool, usually till the cows came home.
I'm going to the party tonight. So I plan to stay out until the cows go home.
Я иду сегодня на вечеринку, так что собираюсь пробыть в гостях допоздна.
till the last gun is fired
until the last gun is fired
Until the end; until everything is finished or decided.
Fred always liked to stay at parties until the last gun was fired.
The candidate didn't give up hope of being elected until the last gun was fired.
tip of the iceberg
Вершина айсберга; что-то, что является только малой частью чего-то большего.
The problems that you see here now are just the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous disasters waiting to happen.
Эти проблемы, что есть у нас сейчас – только начало. Куча несчастий ждет нас впереди.
tip the balance
To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide.
The two candidates are so close in the polls that both are vying for something that will tip the balance in their favor.
The immense interconnectivity of social media has tipped the balance of power somewhat back into the hands of the ordinary population.
tip the scales
To weigh.
Martin tips the scales at 180 pounds.
To have important or decisive influence; make a decision go for or against you; decide.
John's vote tipped the scales in our favor, and we won the election.
to be on the safe side
To take extra precautions; reduce or eliminate the possibility of a mistake, an error, or even danger.
Dad always keeps his valuables in a bank's safe deposit box, just to be on the safe side.