hard up

Idioms  

1. In need, poor, as in Unemployment is rising and many families are hard up, or With widespread emigration, Russia is finding itself hard up for scientists and other professional people. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

They've gotten down the left with Josh Edwards a few times, while Alex Jakubiak is working hard up top.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2024

And while we can't know for sure, it's likely that #2 Smith Court, hard up against the African Meeting House, was the final home Rebecca shared with Wyatt.

From Scientific American • Nov. 2, 2023

Part of the success has come from trying to refocus his approach on hitting the ball hard up the middle and to right-center.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2023

Fitzgerald was hard up for money, and he sold each story to Esquire for $250.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2023

“You know, when you’re hard up, you do a lot of things just to try and make ends meet. I wonder if you can imagine what that’s like.”

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng