hard up

IPA/ˌhɑːd ˈʌp/
IPA/ˌhɑːrd ˈʌp/

hard up — adjective

1. In a situation where you do not have enough money for the things you need, often

1.形容詞B1
釋義

In a situation where you do not have enough money for the things you need, often only for a brief time.

例句

Talia said she would be hard up until her next pay cheque arrived.

be + hard up (predicative)

After losing his job, Emre was hard up for cash and had to borrow bus fare from a neighbour.

hard up for [something]

同義詞
  • broke

    more informal and common in everyday speech

  • skint

    British informal slang, very casual

  • short

    general term for lacking money, often used with 'of' or 'on'

反義詞
  • well off

    having plenty of money

  • flush

    informal antonym, having more than enough money temporarily

文法句型

be + hard up

用法筆記

Usually used predicatively after a form of 'be' ('I'm hard up'). The hyphenated form 'hard-up' can appear before a noun as an attributive adjective ('hard-up pensioners'). Avoid using it in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌I have a hard up life these days.
✅I am hard up these days.
💡'hard up' is a set phrase (adjective), not a modifier like 'hard'.