on (one's) uppers イディオム
on one's uppers|on|uppers
adj. phr.,
informal Very poor.
Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers. Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.
on one's uppers
on one's uppers Poor, in reduced circumstances, as in as in
The Smiths try to hide the fact that they're on their uppers. First recorded in 1886, this metaphoric term alludes to having worn out the soles of one's shoes so badly that only the top portions remain.
on (one's) uppers
Having no money; broke. The byword was originally acclimated to call bodies who were so poor that they had beat their shoes down to the uppers (the allotment of the shoe aloft the sole). I'm down on my uppers this week, so can we go out for drinks abutting week, afterwards I get paid? My mother was consistently bottomward money into the easily of our accompany she anticipation were on their uppers.Learn more: on, upperon one's uppers
Poor, in bargain circumstances, as in as in The Smiths try to adumbrate the actuality that they're on their uppers. First recorded in 1886, this allegorical appellation alludes to accepting beat out the soles of one's shoes so abominably that alone the top portions remain. Learn more: on, upperon your uppers
or down on your uppers
BRITISH, INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONEDIf a being or a aggregation is on their uppers or down on their uppers, they accept actual little money. The aggregation is on its uppers and shareholders can balloon about accepting assets for a brace of years. Simon pays banknote for his ceramics because he finds so abounding potters are down on their uppers. Note: The high of a shoe is the top allotment of it, which is absorbed to the sole and heel. If you are on your uppers, you accept beat through the sole and heel. Learn more: on, upperon your uppers
acutely abbreviate of money. informal In this expression, exhausted shoes are taken as an adumbration of someone's poverty; the upper is the allotment of a shoe aloft the sole, which is all that is larboard afterwards the sole has been beat away.Learn more: on, upperon your ˈuppers
(British English, informal) accepting actual little money: Joe paid for lunch, which was abundant because we were both on our uppers, as usual. OPPOSITE: (be) rolling in it/money Uppers refers to the top allotment of a cossack or shoe. If you are walking on your uppers, your shoes are old and beat down.Learn more: on, upper on (one's) uppers
Informal Impoverished; destitute.Learn more: on, upper