shoestring

/ˈʃuːstɹɪŋ/

Etymology

The noun is derived from shoe + string. The adjective is derived from the noun, while the verb is derived from terms such as shoestring catch and shoestring tackle.

adj

  1. Of a catch or tackle: made near the ground, close to a player's shoes.

noun

  1. The string or lace used to secure a shoe to the foot; a shoelace.“Your shoestring is untied.”
  2. An object that is long and thin, like a shoestring (sense 1).
  3. An object that is long and thin, like a shoestring (sense 1).; A long, narrow cut of a food; a julienne.“shoestring French fries”
  4. Chiefly in on a shoestring: very little money; a tight budget.“He was able to organize the event on a shoestring.”

verb

  1. To tackle (a player) using a shoestring tackle (“one made near the ground, close to a player's shoes”).
  2. To catch (a ball) using a shoestring catch (“one made near the ground, close to a player's shoes”).“We didn't score in our half of the eighth, but it was only because Ernie's line drive was shoestringed by the Giant left fielder, with Rusty Howarth on second.”