подтягивать животы

• ПОДТЯГИВАТЬ/ПОДТЯНУТЬ живот <ЖИВОТЫ> coll

[VP; subj: human; often infin with пришлось, надо etc; fixed WO]

=====

⇒ to eat less than one would like (as a result of one's financial circumstances, the unavailability of food etc):

- X-y пришлось подтянуть живот{{}}≈ X had to tighten his belt.