short commons

Already they were getting used to much walking on short commons — shorter at any rate than what in the Shire they would have thought barely enough to keep them on their legs.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Meg looked worn and nervous, the babies absorbed every minute of her time, the house was neglected, and Kitty, the cook, who took life ‘aisy’, kept him on short commons.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

"It will be short commons, unless——" "Unless what?" asked Armstrong.

From Rounding up the Raider A Naval Story of the Great War by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

These, however, soon fell a prey to such hungry fellows as we were, who had been for some time past on rather short commons.

From Twenty-Five Years in the Rifle Brigade by William Surtees

"Your father no doubt thinks he has been doing a wise thing in keeping himself on short commons to give you what he foolishly imagines is an education."

From The Squire's Daughter by Silas K(itto) Hocking