On one’s uppers

Meaning

The idiom "on one's uppers" means to be broke or to have no money left. It can also mean to be out of business, to be struggling financially, or to have one's reputation ruined. The phrase comes from the early 18th century and means "in possession."

Usage

• "I don't know what I would do if I lost my job, I'm already on my uppers."
• "He had nothing left after paying off his debts, he was truly on his uppers."
• "The company had been struggling for years and was finally forced to declare bankruptcy, they were on their uppers."
• "After the scandal broke, her reputation was ruined and she was on her uppers with everyone in the industry."
• "The market crash left many investors on their uppers, as they lost all their money."

Roots and History

The idiom "on one's uppers" comes from the early 18th century and means "in possession." It was originally used to describe someone who had something valuable or important. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean being in a difficult financial situation.

Synonyms in English

• Broke
• In debt
• Struggling financially
• Out of business
• Bankrupt

Synonyms in other languages

• Français: "Banqué" - This is similar to the English word broke, but it has a more negative connotation and implies that someone is not only out of money but also unable to pay off their debts.
• Spanish: "Perdido" - This means lost or bankrupt. It is commonly used in the context of financial difficulties.
• German: "In Konkurs gestellt" - This means declared bankrupt. It is a direct translation of the English phrase "on one's uppers."
• Italian: "Il giorno della caduta" - This means the day of collapse or failure. It is used to describe a financial crisis or other type of downfall.
• Portuguese: "Banco roto" - This means broken bank. It is used to describe a bank that has failed and is no longer able to pay off its debts.

Similar Idioms

• once in a blue moon

• bare bones

• out of the closet