How do you use "Hard up" in a sentence?

Times are hard up right now, but we'll get through it. She's been hard up since she lost her job. If you're hard up for cash, I can lend you some until payday.

Hard up

Q: What does "Hard up" mean?

In financial difficulty; struggling for money. 'Hard up' means you're in a tough financial spot — not necessarily broke, but struggling. It can also mean desperately wanting something (not just money). 'Hard up for cash' is a common elaboration.

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate informal

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Meaning: In financial difficulty; struggling for money.

经济困难；手头拮据。

Con dificultades económicas; apurado de dinero.

経済的に苦しいこと。お金に困っていること。

경제적으로 어려운 상태. 돈에 쪼들리는 것.

'Hard up' means you're in a tough financial spot — not necessarily broke, but struggling. It can also mean desperately wanting something (not just money). 'Hard up for cash' is a common elaboration.

'Hard up'意思是你经济状况不太好——不一定是身无分文，但日子过得很紧。也可以指非常渴望某样东西（不仅仅是钱）。'Hard up for cash'是常见的扩展用法。

'Hard up' significa estar en una situación económica complicada: no necesariamente sin blanca, pero con apuros. También puede significar necesitar desesperadamente algo (no solo dinero). 'Hard up for cash' es una elaboración habitual.

「hard up」は経済的に厳しい状況にいることを意味する——必ずしも一文無しではないが、苦労している。お金以外にも切実に何かを求めている意味でも使える。「hard up for cash」はよく使われる言い回し。

'hard up'은 경제적으로 힘든 상황에 있다는 뜻이다 — 완전히 빈털터리는 아니지만 어렵다는 의미다. 돈뿐만 아니라 무언가를 간절히 원할 때도 쓸 수 있다. 'hard up for cash'는 흔히 쓰이는 확장 표현이다.

Examples

Times are hard up right now, but we'll get through it.
现在日子确实不好过，但我们会挺过去的。
Ahora las cosas están difíciles económicamente, pero saldremos adelante.
今は経済的に厳しいけど、なんとか乗り越えるよ。
지금 형편이 어렵지만, 잘 이겨낼 거야.
She's been hard up since she lost her job.
她失业之后一直手头紧。
Ha estado apurada de dinero desde que perdió el trabajo.
仕事を失ってから、彼女はずっとお金に困っている。
그녀는 직장을 잃은 후로 계속 돈에 쪼들리고 있어.
If you're hard up for cash, I can lend you some until payday.
你要是手头紧，我可以借你点儿，撑到发工资。
Si andas mal de dinero, te puedo prestar algo hasta el día de cobro.
お金に困ってるなら、給料日まで貸すよ。
돈이 궁하면 월급날까지 좀 빌려줄게.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: sympathetic conversation, storytelling, casual talk

Tone: sympathetic, understated

✓ Do Say

They're a bit hard up right now.
他们现在经济有点困难。
Ahora mismo están un poco apurados.
今ちょっとお金に困ってるみたい。
그들은 지금 좀 형편이 어려워.
I was hard up for a while after college.
大学毕业后我拮据了好一阵子。
Estuve pasándolas canutas un tiempo después de la universidad.
大学卒業後しばらくはお金に苦労したよ。
대학 졸업 후 한동안 돈에 쪼들렸어.

✗ Don't Say

Gentler than 'broke' — implies struggle without the harshness
比'broke'语气更温和——表达困境但不那么刺耳
Más suave que 'broke' — implica dificultad sin la dureza
「broke」よりも穏やか——きつさを和らげて困窮を表現する
'broke'보다 부드러운 표현 — 가혹함 없이 어려움을 전달한다

Origin & History

British and American expression dating to the early 1800s. 'Hard' meaning difficult plus 'up' as an intensifier. Originally nautical — a ship 'hard up' had its helm pushed fully to windward, implying difficulty.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 1800s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal