English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Down and out
Meaning
The idiom "down and out" is used to describe someone who is in a very difficult or unfortunate situation, usually financially or economically. It can also refer to someone who is homeless, unemployed, or living in poverty. The phrase may also be used figuratively to describe a person's emotional state, such as feeling hopeless or defeated.
Usage
- John lost his job and has been down and out for months, struggling to make ends meet.
- The homeless man sat on the street corner, looking down and out, with nothing but the clothes on his back.
- Sarah's car broke down, leaving her stranded on the side of the road and feeling down and out.
- The company is facing financial difficulties, with many employees losing their jobs and feeling down and out.
- After years of struggling with addiction, John hit rock bottom and was down and out, but he found hope in a support group.
Roots and History
The idiom "down and out" has its roots in the Great Depression of the 1930s, when many people were unemployed and living in poverty. The phrase became popular during this time as a way to describe the difficult circumstances faced by these individuals. Over time, the idiom has come to be used more broadly to refer to anyone who is struggling financially or emotionally. While there are no specific regional variations of the idiom, it may be used differently in different contexts depending on the culture and social norms of the speaker.
Synonyms in English
- Destitute
- Homeless
- Unemployed
- Struggling financially
- Living in poverty
Synonyms in other languages
- French: "Pauvre" - This word is commonly used to describe someone who is poor or destitute, and can also refer to someone who is feeling down and out emotionally.
- German: "Arme" - This word means "poor" or "destitute," and can be used in a similar way as the English idiom.
- Spanish: "Pobre" - This word has a similar meaning to "poor" or "destitute," and can also refer to someone who is feeling down and out emotionally.
- Italian: "Povero" - This word means "poor" or "destitute," and can be used in a similar way as the English idiom.
- Japanese: "貧産" - This phrase translates to "destitute" or "pauper," and is commonly used to describe someone who is living in poverty.