拮据

拮据 [jié jū]

1. ■ short of money; hard up; in straitened circumstances:

经济拮据 in financial straits;

手头拮据 be hard up for money;

父亲失业了， 我们现在经济十分拮据。 Now that father's lost his job, we're in serious straits.

这使他暂时手头拮据。 That has left him temporarily short.