Meaning of...
"Fred believes that he has no choice. He really suffers over money. He's this skinny, young-looking 15-year-old. And he is perpetually strapped for cash. And he said that his parents couldn't help him much with money right now because they had just gone $500,000 into debt."

I'd like to know the meaning of: "He really suffers over money". I'm not quite sure what's the idea. I can understand the context, but I'd like to know more about the idea of suffering over money.

Question

Meaning of...
"Fred believes that he has no choice. He really suffers over money. He's this skinny, young-looking 15-year-old. And he is perpetually strapped for cash. And he said that his parents couldn't help him much with money right now because they had just gone $500,000 into debt."

I'd like to know the meaning of: "He really suffers over money". I'm not quite sure what's the idea. I can understand the context, but I'd like to know more about the idea of suffering over money.

Answer

Madison, a question. "Suffer over... something" has always the same meaning. I mean, for example: "I suffer over food", which imply, in this case I've a problem with food, so every time I'll think about food I'd feel stressed, anxious or worried about it?

In Fred's case, he suffers over money, because money creates "a pressure" over him. So, in my example, food is the object which creates "pressure" over me. Is this correct or not?

Answer

I really appreciate you explanation Madison. Thank so much!.

About "strapped for cash" I found the meaning before, that's the reason why I was able to understand the context, but I appreciate your explanation too.

Actually, I found something interesting about the origin of this expression: Slang adjective strapped "short of money" is from 1857, from strap (n.) in the old sense of "financial credit" (1828). (source: https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=strap)

Answer

Hello! in this context "he really suffers over money" means that the subject of money or thinking about money makes him feel stressed, anxious, and brings him a great deal of pain and worry.

In the next sentence, "strapped for cash" is a colloquial way of saying that he is broke and in need of money.

Hope this helped!

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