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

See Examples For:

hard up

Fernandes is given licence to contribute in attack but, like Casemiro, has the ability to run hard up and down the pitch, getting back to defend when needed.

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025

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

Crawford lined one hard up the middle that just eluded the grasp of Neto and bring home Pollock and make it 5-2.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 10, 2023

The de Celises were hard up when they sold their property in the 1870s to a man named Charles Maclay.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2022

Mr. Leroy was looking hard up at the tavern.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis