be hard up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
George laughs gruffly: “You lot must be hard up for heroes.”
From The Guardian • Jun. 11, 2018
The finding that loneliness can be contagious also caught some readers off-guard—wouldn't lonely souls be hard up for people to infect?
From Slate • Apr. 7, 2010
He knew that he must be hard up for food, and he could not allow the man to starve to death without making an effort to relieve his wants.
From If Any Man Sin by Cody, H. A. (Hiram Alfred)
But I should be very much indisposed to give it him, merely to linger on here about town for a little time and then be hard up again.
From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Hogarth, Georgina
Men may be hard up or even stone-broke; there are slums; there are hard-worked women; but there is no general fear of poverty.
From As We Are and As We May Be by Besant, Walter, Sir
