Chinese idiom · 成语
捉襟见肘
Meaning
To pull a collar and expose elbows; to be stretched thin or in poverty.
Character by character
捉catch
襟collar
见reveal
肘elbow
Origin and story
From Zhuangzi (Zhuāng zǐ). A poor man’s short robe revealed his elbows when adjusted, showing scarcity.