Dictionary

dirt-poor en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

An inversion of the earlier poor as dirt (compare whip-smart or smart as a whip).

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, not-comparable) In a condition of extreme poverty.
   • In recent months, the dirt-poor peasants of Honduras have invaded farms and blockaded bridges to force the government to fulfill its promises. 1975 August 18, “Religion: Blood and Land”, in Time:
   • A few years ago it was a dirt-poor outpost populated by rural migrants. 2007 August 4, “A critical election for ‘the best dressed man in Turkey’”, in The Week, 625, 16:

Forms

Antonyms

filthy rich

Translations (10)

pl przeubogi (very poor) · is bláfátækur (very poor) · es paupérrimo (very poor) · fi rutiköyhä (very poor) · de bettelarm (very poor) · nl straatarm (very poor) · af brandarm (very poor) · ga beo bocht (very poor) · pdt pracha'oam (very poor) · ro sărac lipit pământului (very poor)