Phrase guide

down and out

adj · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

In a condition of poverty or debility, especially as a result of experiencing a financial or personal setback.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • People who are down and out need some place to turn.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of down-and-outer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: down-and-outer

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: обеднял (obednjal) — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Chinese Mandarin: 貧病交迫 /贫病交迫 (pínbìngjiāopò) — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Finnish: puilla paljailla — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • German: heruntergekommen — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Italian: morto di fame — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Portuguese: morto de fome — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Portuguese: morta de fome — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Portuguese: na pior — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Spanish: muerto de hambre — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Spanish: con una mano atrás y otra delante — in a condition of poverty or debility
  • Spanish: como puta por rastrojo — in a condition of poverty or debility