can't afford it

/kænt əˈfɔːrd ɪt/

not having enough money to buy something

I can't afford it, so I'll save up for a few months.

The speaker doesn't have enough money to buy the item now.

Finance

informal

To lack sufficient financial resources to purchase or do something

She wanted the designer dress but couldn't afford it.

She didn't have enough money to buy the expensive dress.

Many people can't afford healthcare in this country.

Many people lack the financial means to pay for medical treatment.

This phrase is commonly used in everyday conversations about financial limitations.

Collocations

can't afford toused when referring to actions rather than objectscan't afford it right nowused when the lack of money is temporary

to be unable to sustain a loss

to be in a hurry or under time pressure

This phrase is often used in discussions about budgeting, shopping, or financial planning.

Use 'can't afford it' when referring to a specific item or service, and 'can't afford to' when referring to an action.

Derived from the verb 'afford' meaning to have enough money for something, combined with the negative 'can't' to indicate inability.

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to express financial limitations. It can refer to both tangible items and services.

can't

negative form of 'can'

auxiliary verb

afford

to have enough money for something

verb

refers to a specific item or service

pronoun

English Dictionary