the poor

the poor — idiom

1. people who do not have enough money to meet their basic needs for food, housing,

1.慣用語A2
釋義

people who do not have enough money to meet their basic needs for food, housing, and clothing, considered together as a group in society.

例句

The government has launched a new programme to provide free healthcare for the poor.

collocation: provide [service] for the poor

Rising food prices have hit the poor harder than any other group.

同義詞
  • the needy

    slightly softer, focuses on lack of necessities rather than income level

  • the disadvantaged

    broader — includes lack of education, opportunity, or social status, not just money

  • the underprivileged

    formal tone; emphasises lack of advantages others enjoy

  • the have-nots

    informal, often used in contrasting pairs ('haves and have-nots')

反義詞
  • the rich

    direct opposite; people with abundant financial resources

  • the wealthy

    similar to 'the rich' but suggests long-term financial security

文法句型

the poor + plural verb

among / for / of the poor

用法筆記

Always used with the definite article 'the'. Takes a plural verb: 'the poor are' (NOT 'the poor is'). Refers to a social group as a whole, not to an individual — for one person, use 'a poor person' or 'someone who is poor.'

常見錯誤

❌The poor needs more help from the government.
✅The poor need more help from the government.
💡'the poor' is a plural noun phrase, so it takes a plural verb.
❌Poor are struggling to find housing.
✅The poor are struggling to find housing.
💡the definite article 'the' is required.
❌She is one of the poor.
✅She is a poor person.' or 'She lives in poverty.
💡'the poor' describes a group, not an individual member.