In every language, idioms paint a vivid picture of life’s realities, using unique expressions that carry deeper meanings. This blog post explores 20 idioms specifically crafted to describe the journey of poverty, offering a glimpse into how different cultures encapsulate economic struggles through language.
Idioms That Describe Poverty
1. On a shoestring
Meaning: With very limited resources.
Example: He’s living on a shoestring, saving diligently.
2. Make ends meet
Meaning: Barely managing to survive financially.
Example: They struggle to make ends meet each month.
3. Tighten one’s belt
Meaning: Spend less money; economize.
Example: We must tighten our belts this winter.
4. Penny pinching
Meaning: Extremely frugal, economizing.
Example: Her penny pinching helped her through college.
5. Dirt poor
Meaning: Extremely poor.
Example: He grew up dirt poor but ambitious.
6. As poor as a church mouse
Meaning: Very poor.
Example: She lived as poor as a church mouse.
7. Barely scraping by
Meaning: Hardly making enough to live.
Example: They’re just barely scraping by now.
8. Down and out
Meaning: Destitute, without prospects.
Example: He felt down and out after losing his job.
9. Hand to mouth
Meaning: Living with only the bare essentials.
Example: They lived hand to mouth during the crisis.
10. Strapped for cash
Meaning: Lacking money.
Example: I’m strapped for cash until payday.
11. In the red
Meaning: Losing money, in debt.
Example: The business has been in the red.
12. Nickel-and-diming
Meaning: Minimizing spending in small amounts.
Example: They’re nickel-and-diming to save money.
13. Not have two pennies to rub together
Meaning: Be extremely poor.
Example: He didn’t have two pennies to rub together.
14. Skint
Meaning: Having no money.
Example: I’m totally skint until Friday.
15. On the breadline
Meaning: In extreme poverty.
Example: Many families are now on the breadline.
16. Live off scraps
Meaning: Survive on very little.
Example: They had to live off scraps.
17. Count every penny
Meaning: Be very careful about spending.
Example: She counts every penny she earns.
18. In a financial hole
Meaning: In a bad economic situation.
Example: He’s in a financial hole now.
19. On the dole
Meaning: Receiving government welfare.
Example: He’s been on the dole for months.
20. Financially challenged
Meaning: Struggling with money.
Example: Many are financially challenged nowadays.