People use idioms to describe different situations in life. Some idioms help us talk about money problems or when someone doesn’t have much. These are called idioms for being poor. They make language more colorful and help us understand things better.
When people don’t have enough money, they might say things like “broke as a joke” or “down and out.” These phrases don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they show how hard life can feel without money. In this article, we will look at some of these idioms. You’ll learn what they mean and how to use them in real life. Understanding these phrases can help you talk about tough times in a smart and simple way.
Idioms for Poor
1. Flat broke
Meaning: Having no money at all
Example Sentence:
• I couldn’t buy ice cream because I was flat broke.
• After paying rent, Dad said he was flat broke.
Other ways to say: Out of money, penniless
Fun Fact/Origin: “Flat” means completely. “Flat broke” means totally without money.
Usage: Used when someone has zero money left.
2. Down and out
Meaning: Having no money and struggling to live
Example Sentence:
• He was down and out after losing his job.
• She helped a down-and-out man by giving him food.
Other ways to say: In trouble, struggling
Fun Fact/Origin: Came from old boxing, where a fighter is knocked out.
Usage: Used when someone has no job, home, or money.
3. Without a dime to his name
Meaning: Completely broke
Example Sentence:
• He traveled without a dime to his name.
• After college, I had no job and not a dime to my name.
Other ways to say: No money at all, broke
Fun Fact/Origin: A “dime” is 10 cents, used to show even the smallest money is gone.
Usage: Used to show someone has absolutely no money.
4. Living hand to mouth
Meaning: Having just enough money for daily needs
Example Sentence:
• They lived hand to mouth after the store closed.
• Some families live hand to mouth with no savings.
Other ways to say: Barely getting by, just surviving
Fun Fact/Origin: Describes food going directly from hand to mouth, meaning no extra.
Usage: Used for people who earn just enough to survive.
5. On the breadline
Meaning: So poor they may need free food
Example Sentence:
• Many people were on the breadline during the Great Depression.
• He stood in line for food because he was on the breadline.
Other ways to say: Very poor, needing help
Fun Fact/Origin: Came from food lines for free bread.
Usage: Used for extreme poverty.
6. Not have two nickels to rub together
Meaning: Extremely poor
Example Sentence:
• We didn’t have two nickels to rub together growing up.
• She couldn’t buy a gift—she didn’t have two nickels to rub together.
Other ways to say: Dead broke, poor as dirt
Fun Fact/Origin: Nickels are small coins; not even having two shows poverty.
Usage: Used to describe having almost nothing.
7. Hard up
Meaning: In need of money
Example Sentence:
• He’s hard up after paying all the bills.
• We were hard up and had to skip vacation.
Other ways to say: In a pinch, low on funds
Fun Fact/Origin: Originally meant pressed or in a tight spot.
Usage: Used when someone is short on money.
8. In dire straits
Meaning: In a very bad situation, often with no money
Example Sentence:
• The family was in dire straits after the fire.
• He’s in dire straits and needs help.
Other ways to say: In big trouble, struggling
Fun Fact/Origin: “Straits” means narrow and hard to pass, like hard times.
Usage: Used when someone is in serious trouble or very poor.
9. Make ends meet
Meaning: To have just enough money to live
Example Sentence:
• Mom works two jobs to make ends meet.
• They are trying hard to make ends meet.
Other ways to say: Cover expenses, get by
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from stretching money so both ends of a budget connect.
Usage: Used when talking about managing money tightly.
10. On a shoestring budget
Meaning: Living or doing something with very little money
Example Sentence:
• We had a birthday party on a shoestring budget.
• He started the business on a shoestring budget.
Other ways to say: Tight budget, very little money
Fun Fact/Origin: A shoestring is thin and short, like a small budget.
Usage: Used when money is very limited.
11. Penny-pinching
Meaning: Being very careful with money
Example Sentence:
• My grandpa is always penny-pinching at the store.
• She’s penny-pinching to save for college.
Other ways to say: Frugal, careful spender
Fun Fact/Origin: Means holding on to every penny.
Usage: Used to describe someone who spends very little.
12. Poor as a church mouse
Meaning: Very poor
Example Sentence:
• After moving out, I was poor as a church mouse.
• That man is as poor as a church mouse but always kind.
Other ways to say: Broke, penniless
Fun Fact/Origin: Churches used to have no food, so mice there were poor too.
Usage: Used for people with almost no money.
13. Scraping by
Meaning: Just barely managing
Example Sentence:
• They’re scraping by on one income.
• I scraped by last month without borrowing money.
Other ways to say: Barely surviving, getting along
Fun Fact/Origin: Like scraping the bottom of a pot to get leftovers.
Usage: Used when people manage with difficulty.
14. Living on a shoestring
Meaning: Living with very little money
Example Sentence:
• College students often live on a shoestring.
• They traveled across the U.S. living on a shoestring.
Other ways to say: Tight budget, low funds
Fun Fact/Origin: A repeat of idiom 10 with a focus on lifestyle.
Usage: Used when people live very cheaply.
15. Not made of money
Meaning: Not rich
Example Sentence:
• I can’t buy you that toy—I’m not made of money!
• Dad said we’re not made of money when I asked for new shoes.
Other ways to say: Not rich, limited money
Fun Fact/Origin: Jokes that a person isn’t built out of cash.
Usage: Used to explain why someone can’t spend freely.
16. Money doesn’t grow on trees
Meaning: You can’t get money easily
Example Sentence:
• Mom said money doesn’t grow on trees when I wanted a phone.
• You have to work—money doesn’t grow on trees!
Other ways to say: Money is earned, not free
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant to teach kids the value of money.
Usage: Used when reminding others to be careful with money.
17. On the rocks (financially)
Meaning: Having money problems
Example Sentence:
• Their business is on the rocks.
• After losing his job, he’s on the rocks.
Other ways to say: In trouble, broke
Fun Fact/Origin: “On the rocks” used to mean a ship hitting rocks and sinking.
Usage: Used when finances are going badly.
18. Tighten the belt
Meaning: Spend less money
Example Sentence:
• We had to tighten our belts after Dad retired.
• She’s tightening her belt to pay for school.
Other ways to say: Cut back, save money
Fun Fact/Origin: When people had less food, they’d pull their belts tighter.
Usage: Used when you need to reduce spending.
19. Cash-strapped
Meaning: Having little or no money
Example Sentence:
• I’m cash-strapped until payday.
• The family was cash-strapped after moving.
Other ways to say: Broke, short on money
Fun Fact/Origin: “Strapped” means tied down, unable to move.
Usage: Used when someone is low on cash.
20. In the red
Meaning: Owing money
Example Sentence:
• The store is in the red this month.
• I’m in the red after paying for repairs.
Other ways to say: In debt, below zero
Fun Fact/Origin: Old bookkeeping used red ink to show negative money.
Usage: Used when someone owes money.
21. Beg, borrow, or steal
Meaning: Trying everything to get what you need
Example Sentence:
• He had to beg, borrow, or steal to get the rent money.
• I’d beg, borrow, or steal just to pay the bills.
Other ways to say: Try anything, desperate
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows how desperate someone might be.
Usage: Used when someone is trying hard to get money.
22. Feel the pinch
Meaning: Struggling with money
Example Sentence:
• We’re starting to feel the pinch after buying a new car.
• She’s feeling the pinch after quitting her job.
Other ways to say: In a tight spot, low on cash
Fun Fact/Origin: Feeling a pinch is like money being tight.
Usage: Used when money starts to feel limited.
23. On your uppers
Meaning: Poor or nearly broke
Example Sentence:
• After losing his job, he’s on his uppers.
• We were on our uppers before Mom got a raise.
Other ways to say: Down to nothing, broke
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old shoes where soles wore out, only the top (uppers) remained.
Usage: Used to describe being very poor.
24. Short on cash
Meaning: Not having enough money right now
Example Sentence:
• I can’t come—I’m short on cash.
• She was short on cash after vacation.
Other ways to say: Broke, low on funds
Fun Fact/Origin: Simple phrase used when money is low temporarily.
Usage: Used for quick money shortages.
25. Bare bones budget
Meaning: Very limited money
Example Sentence:
• We’re living on a bare bones budget this month.
• The school planned the trip with a bare bones budget.
Other ways to say: Tight budget, simple spending
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bare bones” means only the basics.
Usage: Used when cutting costs to the minimum.
26. Dead broke
Meaning: Having no money at all
Example Sentence:
• I was dead broke after the holidays.
• He’s dead broke until payday.
Other ways to say: Penniless, flat broke
Fun Fact/Origin: “Dead” adds strong meaning to being broke.
Usage: Used when someone has zero money.
27. Running on empty
Meaning: Having little to nothing left (often money or energy)
Example Sentence:
• We’re running on empty till Mom gets paid.
• His wallet’s running empty after the trip.
Other ways to say: Out of money, running low
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cars almost out of gas.
Usage: Used when someone has nearly nothing left.
28. Skint
Meaning: Having no money (mostly British)
Example Sentence:
• I’d love to go out, but I’m skint.
• They were skint after buying new furniture.
Other ways to say: Broke, short of cash
Fun Fact/Origin: “Skint” is used a lot in the UK for being broke.
Usage: Used when someone is out of money.
29. Broke as a joke
Meaning: Very poor
Example Sentence:
• He broke a joke this week.
• I’m broke as a joke until Friday.
Other ways to say: Totally broke, dead broke
Fun Fact/Origin: Rhyming makes it catchy and funny, even when it’s serious.
Usage: Used to describe being extremely broke in a casual way.
30. Tight as a drum
Meaning: Very limited money or strict spending
Example Sentence:
• Our budget is tight as a drum this month.
• Things are tight as a drum after our move.
Other ways to say: Very tight, strict money
Fun Fact/Origin: A drum is stretched tightly, like a budget.
Usage: Used when money is very limited or strictly controlled.
36. Rainy day fund is dry
Meaning: No emergency money left
Example Sentence:
• Our rainy day fund is dry after the house is repaired.
• He said his rainy day fund is dry after his car broke down.
Other ways to say: Out of savings, no emergency cash
Fun Fact/Origin: “Rainy day fund” means money saved for hard times.
Usage: Used when all backup money has been spent.
37. In over one’s head (financially)
Meaning: Owing more than one can handle
Example Sentence:
• He bought a house and is now in over his head.
• They are in over their heads with all that debt.
Other ways to say: Too deep in debt, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Like water going over someone’s head—too much to manage.
Usage: Used when someone takes on more than they can afford.
38. Burning a hole in one’s pocket
Meaning: Money that someone wants to spend quickly
Example Sentence:
• That $10 is burning a hole in his pocket!
• The gift card burned a hole in her pocket.
Other ways to say: Eager to spend, can’t hold on to money
Fun Fact/Origin: Money feels like it must be spent right away.
Usage: Used when someone can’t wait to spend money.
39. Busted
Meaning: Completely out of money
Example Sentence:
• I’m busted until I get paid.
• He said he was busted after the trip.
Other ways to say: Broke, no money
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang used to mean completely without money
Usage: Used in casual talk to say you’re broke.
40. Eat like a bird
Meaning: Eat very little due to having no money
Example Sentence:
• He’s been eating like a bird since he lost his job.
• We ate like birds to save money.
Other ways to say: Barely eat, small meals
Fun Fact/Origin: Birds eat little, so this shows tiny meals.
Usage: Used to describe small eating due to poverty.
41. Cut corners
Meaning: Save money by skipping quality or steps
Example Sentence:
• We had to cut corners on groceries.
• The builders cut corners to save money.
Other ways to say: Take shortcuts, save money
Fun Fact/Origin: Cutting corners means not doing the full job
Usage: Used when saving money by reducing quality or effort.
42. Counting pennies
Meaning: Watching every small amount of money
Example Sentence:
• We’re counting pennies till payday.
• She’s counting pennies to afford lunch.
Other ways to say: Budgeting tightly, saving every cent
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to checking even the smallest coin
Usage: Used when being very careful with money.
43. Go bust
Meaning: Lose all money (often a business)
Example Sentence:
• Their shop went bust during the slow season.
• He feared the plan would go bust.
Other ways to say: Fail, go broke
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bust” means broken or bankrupt.
Usage: Used when something fails due to money problems.
44. In a tight spot (financially)
Meaning: Having money troubles
Example Sentence:
• We’re in a tight spot after paying rent and bills.
• He’s in a tight spot with car payments.
Other ways to say: Financial trouble, short on funds
Fun Fact/Origin: A “tight spot” means not much room or choice.
Usage: Used when money situations are hard.
45. Go hungry
Meaning: Not have enough food due to lack of money
Example Sentence:
• They went hungry to pay the rent.
• He skipped lunch and said he’d go hungry today.
Other ways to say: No food, can’t afford meals
Fun Fact/Origin: Literal phrase showing the result of poverty
Usage: Used when money problems lead to not eating.
Quiz: Idioms for Poor
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “flat broke” mean?
A) Rich with no worries
B) Having no money at all
C) Forgetting your wallet
2. If someone “lives hand to mouth,” they:
A) Eat with their hands
B) Always have fancy meals
C) Only have enough money for basic needs
3. “Not have two nickels to rub together” means:
A) Having no money
B) Collecting coins
C) Having a savings account
4. If your friend says they’re “on the breadline,” they likely:
A) Are baking bread
B) Have more money than they need
C) Are very poor and might need free food
5. “Scraping by” means someone is:
A) Saving tons of money
B) Just managing to live with very little
C) Having fun at the mall
6. What does it mean to be “cash-strapped”?
A) Carrying a lot of cash
B) Struggling to find cash
C) Being low on money
7. If a family is “in the red,” they:
A) Are wearing red clothes
B) Owe money or are in debt
C) Got a red gift card
8. What does “tighten your belt” mean?
A) You’re trying a new fashion style
B) You eat more food
C) You cut back on spending
9. Someone who is “broke as a joke” is:
A) Telling funny money stories
B) Completely out of money
C) Making others laugh at the bank
10. “Burning a hole in your pocket” means:
A) You want to spend money quickly
B) You lost your wallet
C) Your pocket is too small
11. If you are “digging into your savings,” you are:
A) Saving more money
B) Using your backup money
C) Buying a piggy bank
12. Being “in over your head” financially means:
A) You’re swimming
B) You owe more than you can manage
C) You got a haircut
13. “Counting pennies” shows someone is:
A) Collecting coins for fun
B) Paying close attention to their money
C) Going shopping for toys
14. A “bare bones budget” means:
A) You’re rich and relaxed
B) You only spend on the basics
C) You buy bones
15. “Go bust” usually means:
A) Starting a new business
B) Going to a party
C) Losing all your money or going bankrupt
Answer Key
- B) Having no money at all
- C) Only have enough money for basic needs
- A) Having no money
- C) Are very poor and might need free food
- B) Just managing to live with very little
- C) Being low on money
- B) Owe money or are in debt
- C) You cut back on spending
- B) Completely out of money
- A) You want to spend money quickly
- B) Using your backup money
- B) You owe more than you can manage
- B) Paying close attention to their money
- B) You only spend on the basics
- C) Losing all your money or going bankrupt
Wrapping Up
Idioms help us talk about life in fun and clear ways. When someone is poor, they may use special phrases to explain their situation. Learning these idioms helps us understand others better and use language more smartly.
Whether someone is flat broke, on a shoestring budget, or scraping by, these phrases show how money troubles feel. Keep learning and using them in everyday talk. It makes your English better and more real.
