Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Hard Up

Quick summary: An informal phrase meaning short of money or struggling financially.

What does it mean?

If someone is hard up, they do not have much money and may be struggling to pay for things.

Is it positive or negative?

It is negative because it refers to financial difficulty.

When do you use it?

Use it when talking about being short of cash, especially temporarily.

Examples

Example 1: I cannot come out this weekend - I am a bit hard up until payday.

Example 2: Students are often hard up at the end of term.

Question for you

What do people usually cut back on when they are hard up?

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