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hard up

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌhɑːrd ˈʌp/ · UK /ˌhɑːd ˈʌp/

hard up means: You have too little of something and really need more of it.

phrase

REALLY NEEDINGB2

You have too little of something and really need more of it.

  • We are hard up for cash.
  • He was hard up for food after losing his job.
  • Are they still hard up for money?

How to use it: be hard up for something (They are hard up for money this month.)

Similar words: short, in need

Common phrases: hard up for cash, hard up for money

adjective

LACKING SOMETHINGC1

If you lack something you need or want, you have too little of it.

  • We are hard up for space.
  • The club was hard up for volunteers.
  • Are you really that hard up for ideas?

How to use it: be hard up for something (We were hard up for ideas for the party.)

Similar words: short, lacking

Common phrases: hard up for ideas, hard up for space

DESPERATEC1

You want something so badly that you accept choices you would usually reject.

  • She must be hard up to date him.
  • I was hard up enough to accept any job.
  • Are you that hard up for company?

Similar words: desperate

Common phrases: so hard up, that hard up

Questions about hard up

What does hard up mean?

You have too little of something and really need more of it.

What is hard up in other languages?

Türkçe: bir şeye ihtiyaç duymak · Español: estar necesitado de algo · Français: avoir grand besoin de quelque chose · Deutsch: dringend etwas brauchen · Italiano: avere bisogno di qualcosa · 日本語: 不足している

How do you pronounce hard up?

In American English /ˌhɑːrd ˈʌp/; in British English /ˌhɑːd ˈʌp/.

How do you use hard up in a sentence?

We are hard up for cash. He was hard up for food after losing his job.

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hard up in other languages

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