fiscal cliff


noun

a governmental or personal financial crisis that is brought on by economic factors or policies: High housing costs have pushed many families over the fiscal cliff. Some municipalities are on the edge of a fiscal cliff after years of overspending.
(specifically) a financial crisis that threatens to disrupt the economy or personal finances and is brought on by steep governmental spending cuts and tax increases: Congressional legislation to avert the fiscal cliff.

Origin of fiscal cliff

First recorded in 1950–55

Example sentences from the Web for fiscal cliff

British Dictionary definitions for fiscal cliff

fiscal cliff

noun

informal a situation in which sudden changes in government expenditure and taxation have a profound effect on a country's economy