out at the elbows

Idioms  

1. Also,. Wearing clothes that are worn out or torn; poor. For example, When we last saw Phil he was out at the elbows. These expressions, dating from the late 1500s and early 1600s, can refer to clothes worn through at these points as well as to a person too poor to replace them.

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Example Sentences

In the razzle-dazzle world of huck-sterdom, whose currency is superlatives, plain-talking, unassuming Ben Duffy sticks out at the elbows.

From Time Magazine Archive

For the plan of Grounds for Divorce is thin, almost out at the elbows, while the Little Angel is nourished with sustaining spice of satire.

From Time Magazine Archive

"How so?" said the other, "it is not the first time I have seen you out at the elbows."

From The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; containing a collection of over one thousand of the most laughable sayings and jokes of celebrated wits and humorists. by Various

There are few coats among them but are out at the elbows and in a whole regiment, there is hardly a sound pair of breeches.

From George Washington by Courtenay, Calista McCabe

Trishka's Caftan Trishka's caftan was out at the elbows.

From The Talking Beasts by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith