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# hard up

phrase (adjective phrase: hard up; also «hard up for» something)

«hard up» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (informal euphemism) short of money; poor for now.
2. «hard up for» = lacking something: «hard up for ideas».

### In the lessons

An everyday, slightly old-fashioned way to say «broke», softer than «poor»; informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, also US. Common in family talk and stories.

### Examples

- We're a bit hard up this month, so no takeaways.
- When Grandad was young, his family was very hard up.
- Students are often hard up.
- I'm hard up until I get my pocket money.
- The charity helps families who are hard up.
- The writer was hard up for ideas.
- They were too hard up to buy a new car.
- "Lend us a fiver? I'm hard up," said my brother.

### Note

Trap: not about being hard or up. Plain words: short of money, broke, poor. In maths problems, «hard up» suggests the money is limited.