poor as Job en · ADJ
Etymology
The Book of Job depicts the eponymous wealthy and pious landowner as losing all his possessions and becoming afflicted with various ailments and misfortunes, as a test of his faith by God.
Meanings
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(not-comparable, qualifier:simile) Extremely poor, destitute.
1804, Maria Edgeworth, "The Will", Popular Tales, 1813, Paraclete Potter, page 101. Sir Plantagenet's son is as poor as Job; so she must have recourse to Marvel; and, if she gives him proper encouragement, he'll pay the money in a trice.
Relateds
Synonyms
poor as a church mouse · poor as Job's turkey
Translations (5)
fr pauvre comme Job (Translations) · fi köyhä kuin kirkonrotta (Translations) · nl arm als Job (Translations) · pl biedny jak Hiob (Translations) · pt pobre como Jó (Translations)