Poverty and Debt idioms: 20+ Useful Poverty and Debt idioms
The language of poverty and debt reveals itself through impactful idioms that convey the arduousness of financial struggle. Through these idioms, a complex narrative of economic hardship is captured in just a few words.
Types of Poverty and Debt idioms
Rob Peter to pay Paul
The ends don’t meet
Living beyond one’s means
Hand to mouth
Pinching pennies
Catch-22
In the red
Penny-wise, pound-foolish
Out of pocket
Beggar belief
Living paycheck to paycheck
Tighten one’s belt
Fall on hard times
Dig oneself into a hole
Have a hole in one’s pocket
Robbing the cradle
Beg, borrow, or steal
On the breadline
Penny-pinching
Beggar thy neighbor
Count pennies
Deadbeat
Credit crunch
Types of Poverty and Debt idioms with meaning and examples
Rob Peter to pay Paul
Meaning: This idiom means to take from one source to pay another, creating a cycle of debt and financial strain.
Example sentences:
- After maxing out his credit cards, he started robbing Peter to pay Paul, using one credit card to pay off another.
The ends don’t meet
Meaning: This idiom means that one’s income or resources are not enough to cover their expenses, creating a constant struggle to make ends meet.
Example sentences:
- Despite working multiple jobs, she found that the ends didn’t meet and she still struggled to pay her bills.
- Many families in poverty face the challenge of making ends meet, which can lead to food insecurity, housing instability, and other issues.
Living beyond one’s means
Meaning: This idiom means to spend more money than one can afford, leading to debt and financial instability.
Example sentence:
- He enjoyed living a luxurious lifestyle but was living beyond his means, and soon found himself in debt.
Live hand to mouth
Meaning: This idiom means to live with barely enough resources to survive, without any savings or financial stability.
Example sentences:
- After losing her job, she had to live hand to mouth, barely making enough to cover her basic expenses.
- It’s important to provide support for those who live hand to mouth, including social safety nets and education programs to help them gain financial stability.
Pinching pennies
Meaning: This idiom means to be very frugal and careful with money, often in a time of financial hardship.
Example sentences:
- After losing his job, he had to start pinching pennies, cutting back on expenses and finding ways to save money.
- Pinching pennies may not be easy, but it’s an important skill to have in times of financial hardship, helping to stretch limited resources.
Catch-22
Meaning: This idiom refers to a situation where one is trapped by two contradictory requirements or obligations, often leading to a cycle of poverty and debt.
Example sentences:
- Some people may face a Catch-22 when it comes to finding work – they need a car to get to work, but they can’t afford a car without a job.
- Catch-22 situations can be very frustrating and overwhelming, but it’s important to seek out resources and support to break the cycle of poverty and debt.
In the red
Meaning: This idiom means to have a negative balance in one’s financial accounts or to owe money.
Example sentences:
- After overspending on her credit card, she found herself in the red and had to pay high interest rates on her debt.
- It’s important to avoid going into the red by budgeting carefully and avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Penny-wise, pound-foolish
Meaning: This idiom means to be overly focused on small savings while ignoring larger expenses or investments, leading to poor financial decisions.
Example sentences:
- He was penny-wise, pound-foolish when he chose to buy a cheap car rather than investing in a reliable vehicle, leading to frequent repairs and expenses.
- It’s important to look at the big picture and consider long-term financial goals rather than just short-term savings, avoiding penny-wise, pound-foolish decisions.
Out of pocket
Meaning: This idiom means to pay for something out of one’s own funds, without reimbursement or assistance from others.
Example sentences:
- After her insurance denied coverage for her medical expenses, she had to pay out of pocket for the treatments.
- It’s important to budget for unexpected expenses and save money to cover out of pocket costs.
Beggar belief
Meaning: This idiom means to be so incredible or unbelievable that it defies belief or comprehension.
Example sentences:
- The fact that so many people in a wealthy country like the US live in poverty beggars belief.
- The fact that many people have to choose between paying for food or housing beggars belief and highlights the need for systemic change to address poverty and debt.
Living paycheck to paycheck
Meaning: This idiom means to rely on each paycheck to cover one’s basic expenses, with little or no savings or financial cushion.
Example sentences:
- After losing her job, she realized that living paycheck to paycheck had left her vulnerable and unprepared for financial emergencies.
- Many people who live paycheck to paycheck struggle to save money or invest in their future, leading to financial insecurity and stress.
- Breaking the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck often requires a combination of budgeting, reducing expenses, and increasing income through education or additional work.
Tighten one’s belt
Meaning: This idiom means to cut back on expenses and live frugally in order to save money or cope with financial difficulties.
Example sentences:
- After being laid off, he had to tighten his belt and reduce his expenses to make ends meet.
- It’s important to be willing to tighten one’s belt and make sacrifices in order to achieve long-term financial stability and security.
Fall on hard times
Meaning: This idiom means to experience financial difficulties or adversity, often due to unexpected circumstances such as job loss, illness, or economic downturns.
Example sentences:
- It’s important to have a financial safety net and plan for unexpected events, as anyone can fall on hard times.
- Falling on hard times can be a wake-up call to reassess one’s financial situation and make necessary changes to achieve long-term stability and security.
Dig oneself into a hole
Meaning: This idiom means to accumulate debt or financial problems over time, often due to poor financial decisions or lack of financial planning.
Example sentences:
- After years of overspending and failing to save, he found himself digging himself into a hole of debt and financial insecurity.
- It’s important to avoid digging oneself into a hole by practicing good financial habits, such as budgeting, saving, and investing wisely.
Have a hole in one’s pocket
Meaning: This idiom means to have a tendency to spend money quickly and impulsively, often leading to financial difficulties and debt.
Example sentences:
- He has a hole in his pocket and can’t seem to hold onto his money for very long.
- It’s important to be aware of one’s tendency to have a hole in their pocket and to take steps to avoid overspending and accumulating debt.
Robbing the cradle
Meaning: This idiom means to date or marry someone significantly younger, often with the implication that the older partner is using their wealth or resources to attract the younger partner.
Example sentences:
- Robbing the cradle can be seen as a predatory behavior and can have negative consequences for both partners.
- It’s important to avoid robbing the cradle and to seek healthy, equal relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.
Beg, borrow, or steal
Meaning: This idiom means to do anything necessary to obtain something, often with the implication of desperation or unethical behavior.
Example sentences:
- After losing his job and facing mounting bills, he was willing to beg, borrow, or steal to make ends meet.
- Begging, borrowing, or stealing is never a sustainable or ethical solution to financial difficulties and can lead to serious consequences.
On the breadline
Meaning: This idiom means to be living in extreme poverty, often without enough money to buy basic necessities such as food, housing, or healthcare.
Example sentences:
- After losing her job and facing medical bills, she found herself on the breadline and struggling to survive.
- It’s important to advocate for policies and programs that can help lift people off the breadline and into financial stability and security.
Penny-pinching
Meaning: This idiom means to be extremely frugal and careful with money, often to the point of being perceived as stingy or miserly.
Example sentences:
- He was known for his penny-pinching ways and reluctance to spend money on anything beyond basic necessities.
- It’s possible to be financially responsible without being penny-pinching, by budgeting carefully and making conscious spending decisions.
Tighten one’s belt
Meaning: This idiom means to reduce expenses and live more frugally, often in response to financial difficulties or budget constraints.
Example sentences:
- After losing his job, he had to tighten his belt and cut back on non-essential expenses to make ends meet.
Beggar thy neighbor
Meaning: This idiom refers to economic policies or actions that benefit one country or individual at the expense of another, often leading to social or economic imbalances.
Example sentences:
- The new tax policy was criticized for being beggar thy neighbor, as it mainly benefited the wealthy and disadvantaged lower-income earners.
- Beggar thy neighbor policies can have negative consequences for society and often exacerbate existing inequalities.
Count pennies
Meaning: This idiom means to be extremely frugal and careful with money, often in response to financial difficulties or tight budgets.
Example sentences:
- After losing her job, she had to count pennies and cut back on all non-essential expenses to make ends meet.
Deadbeat
Meaning: This idiom refers to someone who fails to pay debts or bills on time, often leading to financial difficulties for themselves and others.
Example sentences:
- It’s important to prioritize timely payments and communicate with creditors if financial difficulties arise.
Credit crunch
Meaning: This idiom refers to a period of time when it is difficult to obtain credit or loans due to a tightening of lending standards or a decrease in available credit.
Example sentences:
- Credit crunches can have negative consequences for the economy and can lead to reduced economic growth and job losses.
- It’s important to maintain a good credit score and financial stability to avoid being negatively affected by credit crunches.