shoe ‧ string /ˈʃuːˌstrɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . on a shoestring informal if you do something on a shoestring, you do it without spending much money
run/operate/do something on a shoestring
The program was run on a shoestring.
2 . shoestring organization/operation etc a business, organization etc that does not have much money available to spend
3 . American English a ↑ shoelace