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• down-and-out
  down-and-out

  adjective

  without any money, or means of support, or prospects; destitute; penniless.
• down and out
  down and out

  Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless. For example, After losing his job, car, and home, he was completely down and out. This term probably originated in boxing, where it alludes to the fighter who is knocked down and stays down for a given time, thereby losing the bout. [c. 1900] Also see down for the count.

down-and-out

American  

[doun-uhnd-out, -uhn] / ˈdaʊn əndˈaʊt, -ən /

adjective

1. without any money, or means of support, or prospects; destitute; penniless.

2. without physical strength or stamina; disabled; incapacitated.

3. too physically weakened by repeated defeats to qualify as a competent professional boxer.

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noun

1. Also down-and-outer. a person who is down-and-out.

down-and-out British  

adjective

1. without any means of livelihood; impoverished and, often, socially outcast

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noun

1. a person who is destitute and, often, homeless; a social outcast or derelict

down and out Idioms  

1. Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless. For example, After losing his job, car, and home, he was completely down and out. This term probably originated in boxing, where it alludes to the fighter who is knocked down and stays down for a given time, thereby losing the bout. [c. 1900] Also see down for the count.

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Etymology

Origin of down-and-out

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

down-and-out down and out

A humble, determined man, his remarkable rise is rooted in his resilience and the belief of a select few people who saw something in a down-and-out kid searching for his big break.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Much to my surprise, Radcliffe more than steps up as a down-and-out documentarian inserted into the life of a disgraced football star grasping for a comeback.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

As the most dismal, down-and-out franchise of the past half-century aimed to clinch the NBA Finals, the Knicks flirted with disaster yet again and fell behind by 15 points in the second half.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

A down-and-out man is approached by a mysterious, well-dressed figure who uses a simple kid’s game to test his want of money against his tolerance for pain and humiliation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2025

She still shops at the dollar stores in Englewood, her old down-and-out neighborhood.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

People say it is down and out, but it was packed.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Another potential coalition partner for the liberals is the Christian Democrats, who only two years ago looked down and out with just a handful of seats.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025

When we meet him in Season 1, Gi-hun is down and out, an inveterate gambler.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025

Brayden Schenn added a third-period breakaway goal scored off the skate of goalie Joey Daccord, who was down and out and trying to make a “scorpion” save by kicking up his foot.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 2024

He turned the package upside down, and out of it spilled hundreds of little pieces of paper.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart