down and out

down and out

See also: down-and-out

English

Alternative forms

• down-and-out

Etymology

From down + out.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

down and out (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) In a condition of poverty or debility, especially as a result of experiencing a financial or personal setback.

   People who are down and out need some place to turn.

   • 1923, Jimmy Cox (lyrics and music), “Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out”:

     So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again, I'm gonna hold on to it 'til them eagles grin
     Nobody knows you, when you down and out
     In my pocket not one penny, and my friends I haven't any

   • 1971, Led Zeppelin (lyrics and music), “Black Dog”, in "Didn't take too long 'fore I found out
     What people mean by down and out:

Synonyms

• destitute, down at heel, homeless

Derived terms

• down-and-outer

Translations

in a condition of poverty or debility

Bulgarian: обеднял (bg) (obednjal) Chinese: Mandarin: 貧病交迫／贫病交迫 (zh) (pínbìngjiāopò) Finnish: puilla paljailla (fi) (adv.) German: heruntergekommen (de) Latin: esurio (la) Italian: morto di fame Portuguese: morto de fome m, morta de fome f, na pior Spanish: muerto de hambre (es) m, con una mano atrás y otra delante (es) (colloquial), como puta por rastrojo (vulgar; dated)

See also

• down but not out
• homelessness