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

And although wages are up, any pollster will tell you swathes of voters feel hard up and hard done by.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025

But back in 1831, he found himself rather hard up in L.A., and took work as a shipbuilder and trapper.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 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

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

She ran through the kitchen, ignoring Mama’s and Cook’s yelps of surprise and shouted censure, grabbed the saltshaker off the prep table, and climbed the stairs, her short legs pumping hard up the grand staircase.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland