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 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

By the way, not all the £110m will go to hard up motorists dumping their cars.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2023

Joe was always hard up, always hustling to make a buck.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols