hard up
The phrase "hard up" is commonly used in informal contexts to describe financial difficulties or a lack of something essential.
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Definition
B2Everyday Life
(informal)Having very little money or facing financial difficulties.
Example
- After the unexpected expenses, she found herself hard up and had to cut back on spending.
- Many families are hard up due to the economic downturn.
B2General
(informal)Lacking something important or valuable, not necessarily money.
Example
- If you're hard up for ideas, try brainstorming with a friend.
- The team was hard up for players, so they had to recruit new members.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hard up":
hard outdown at heelhard luckhard timedown and outin needhard goingbanged upcashed uphand to mouthunder the pumpon the bum