strapped

Strapped is a colloquial term used as an adjective and the past participle of strap. It has several related senses that depend on context. In everyday speech, the most common usage describes financial hardship: being strapped for cash means having little money or liquidity and facing tight budgets or obligations. This sense is informal and often signals temporary constraint rather than chronic poverty; synonyms include hard up and tight, depending on region.

A second sense relates to physical fastening or attachment. When a person or object is strapped, it is secured with straps or bound to something. For example, a backpack or seat belt is strapped to a person, and a package may be strapped with belts for security during transport.

A third meaning is slang related to carrying a weapon. In some regions, especially in informal American English, "strapped" or "strapped up" indicates that someone is armed or carrying a firearm or other weapon.

Origin and usage notes: The term derives from the literal use of straps to secure or bind. The phrases "to strap" and "strapped" appear in various dialects of English, with financial and weapons-related senses becoming prominent in 20th-century slang and continuing in contemporary usage. The exact meaning is heavily dependent on context and tone, so it is important to consider accompanying words.