← Back to Fala2Me

live beyond one's means

[/lɪv bɪˈjɑnd wʌnz miːnz/]
verb phrase
viver acima das suas possiblidades
1. to spend more money than one earns or can afford; to maintain a lifestyle that exceeds one's income or financial resources
They lived beyond their means by purchasing an expensive house they couldn't afford.
Eles viviam acima das suas possiblidades ao comprar uma casa cara que não podiam pagar.
2. to engage in excessive spending or financial irresponsibility relative to available funds
Living beyond one's means often leads to debt and financial problems.
Viver acima das suas possiblidades frequentemente leva ao endividamento e problemas financeiros.
NYC Slang
living large on a shoestring
Synonyms
spend more than one earnslive extravagantlyoverspendexceed one's budget
Antonyms
live within one's meanslive frugallysave moneybudget carefully

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
viver acima das suas possiblidades
standard and most common usage
São Paulo
gastar mais do que ganha
alternative, more direct expression
Rio de Janeiro
viver acima das suas condições
regional variant using 'condições'
Portugal
viver acima das suas possibilidades
European Portuguese spelling with 'possibilidades'

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep up with the Joneses
break the bank
spend like there's no tomorrow
throw money around
live high on the hog
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →