hard up

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The term "hard up" is an adjective that describes someone who does not have enough money to pay for basic needs, such as food, clothing, or housing. It often means that a person is in a difficult financial situation.

Explanation:

• Basic Meaning: If someone is "hard up," they are struggling financially. They might be running low on money or unable to afford the things they need.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "hard up" to describe a person's financial condition. It is often used in informal contexts, so it might not be appropriate for formal writing.

Examples:

1. Basic Example: "After losing his job, Tom was hard up and had to borrow money from his friends."
2. Casual Conversation: "I can’t go out for dinner this week—I’m a bit hard up right now."

Advanced Usage:

• You can also use "hard up" in a more figurative sense to describe someone who is in need of something non-material, but this is less common. For example, "She was hard up for ideas for her project."

Word Variants:

• Hard up (adjective): This is the primary form.
• Hardship (noun): Related word that describes a situation of difficulty, often financial.

Different Meaning:

• "Hard up" primarily refers to financial difficulties, but it can also imply a shortage of resources in a broader sense (though this is less common).

Synonyms:

• Broke: Informal term meaning out of money.
• Strapped: Another informal way to say someone is short on cash.
• In need: More general term that implies someone requires help, which can be financial or otherwise.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Hard times": This phrase is similar and refers to periods of difficulty, often financially.
• "Make ends meet": This means to have just enough money to pay for your basic needs, which relates to being "hard up."

Summary:

"Hard up" is an informal adjective used to describe someone who is struggling financially. It’s best used in casual conversations, and while there are synonyms, each carries slightly different connotations.

Academic

Adjective

1. not having enough money to pay for necessities

Synonyms

• impecunious
• in straitened circumstances
• penniless
• penurious
• pinched