50 Similes for Poverty - Idioms Master

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Poverty is a condition that many people experience, but it can be hard to describe the depth of someone’s struggles with words. Similes can help express these difficult emotions in a way that feels real and relatable. A simile compares two things using “like” or “as,” and when it comes to poverty, similes can describe how it feels to be without money or resources.

For instance, saying someone is “as poor as a church mouse” paints a vivid picture of someone who has very little, even if it’s not stated directly. These comparisons help us understand the depth of someone’s hardship, from being “as broke as a joke” to “as empty as a dry well.” Using similes like these makes the experience of poverty easier to understand and creates a connection between the reader and the reality of the situation.

Similes for Poverty

1. As poor as a church mouse

Meaning: Very poor, having almost nothing
Samples: He was as poor as a church mouse, with hardly a penny to his name. / She lived as poor as a church mouse in a tiny, old apartment.
To Put it Another Way: He had very little. / She had nothing but the essentials.

2. As broke as a joke

Meaning: Completely out of money
Samples: After paying the rent, I’m as broke as a joke. / I spent everything I had and felt as broke as a joke.
To Put it Another Way: I have no money. / I’m financially drained.

3. As poor as dirt

Meaning: Extremely poor
Samples: They lived as poor as dirt in a rundown house. / His clothes were as poor as dirt, tattered and old.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing. / His clothes were in very bad condition.

4. As penniless as a beggar

Meaning: Without any money, completely broke
Samples: He was as penniless as a beggar, asking for work. / She sat there as penniless as a beggar, waiting for some help.
To Put it Another Way: He had no money at all. / She was completely destitute.

5. As poor as a pauper

Meaning: Having nothing or very little money
Samples: After the accident, they were as poor as a pauper, struggling to get by. / He’s as poor as a pauper, living paycheck to paycheck.
To Put it Another Way: He barely had anything. / They lived with almost nothing.

6. As broke as a rusty nail

Meaning: Completely broke or poor
Samples: I can’t even buy lunch, I’m as broke as a rusty nail. / He was as broke as a rusty nail after paying all the bills.
To Put it Another Way: I have no money left. / He’s got nothing after his expenses.

7. As poor as a rat in a trap

Meaning: Extremely poor, with no resources or help
Samples: They lived as poor as a rat in a trap, barely scraping by. / Without a job, I feel as poor as a rat in a trap.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing left. / I’m stuck with no way out.

8. As thin as a scarecrow

Meaning: Very poor, often used to describe someone who lacks enough food
Samples: After weeks of not eating properly, he was as thin as a scarecrow. / She looked as thin as a scarecrow after months of poverty.
To Put it Another Way: She was very skinny. / He didn’t have enough to eat.

9. As hungry as a wolf

Meaning: Very hungry due to lack of food
Samples: After working all day, I was as hungry as a wolf. / He was as hungry as a wolf, with nothing to eat.
To Put it Another Way: I was starving. / He hadn’t eaten in a long time.

10. As empty as a dry well

Meaning: Lacking everything, especially resources or money
Samples: After paying for the bills, his bank account was as empty as a dry well. / She felt as empty as a dry well after losing everything.
To Put it Another Way: His account had nothing. / She was completely drained.

11. As poor as a street urchin

Meaning: Extremely poor, typically living on the streets
Samples: He was as poor as a street urchin, wandering around with no home. / She lived as poor as a street urchin, begging for food.
To Put it Another Way: He had no home. / She had to beg for survival.

12. As empty as a tin can

Meaning: Lacking everything, feeling completely empty
Samples: After paying for the bills, his bank account was as empty as a tin can. / Her stomach was as empty as a tin can after days without food.
To Put it Another Way: His account was empty. / She hadn’t eaten in days.

13. As poor as a barefoot pilgrim

Meaning: Very poor, with nothing to your name
Samples: They were as poor as a barefoot pilgrim, traveling with nothing but the clothes on their backs. / He arrived as poor as a barefoot pilgrim, with no money or shoes.
To Put it Another Way: He had nothing but the basics. / She had barely anything.

14. As broke as the bank of a broken well

Meaning: Completely without money or resources
Samples: After the failed business, he was as broke as the bank of a broken well. / She was as broke as the bank of a broken well after spending all her savings.
To Put it Another Way: She had no money left. / He was financially ruined.

15. As destitute as a ghost

Meaning: Without money, food, or support
Samples: After the accident, he was as destitute as a ghost, wandering with no place to go. / She was as destitute as a ghost, with no one to help her.
To Put it Another Way: He was completely alone and poor. / She had no support at all.

16. As starving as a crow

Meaning: Extremely hungry and poor, scavenging for food
Samples: He was as starving as a crow, rummaging through garbage. / She felt as starving as a crow, looking for anything to eat.
To Put it Another Way: He was desperate for food. / She couldn’t find anything to eat.

17. As poor as a dust bunny

Meaning: Extremely poor, often used in a casual or humorous way
Samples: They lived as poor as a dust bunny, always scraping by. / The family was as poor as a dust bunny, struggling to make ends meet.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing. / They were barely surviving.

18. As ragged as a torn flag

Meaning: In very poor condition, often used to describe someone’s appearance
Samples: He looked as ragged as a torn flag, with clothes in tatters. / Her shoes were as ragged as a torn flag.
To Put it Another Way: His clothes were falling apart. / Her shoes were old and worn out.

19. As poor as the dirt beneath your feet

Meaning: Very poor, with no material wealth
Samples: They lived as poor as the dirt beneath your feet, without any luxuries. / His pockets were as empty as the dirt beneath your feet.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing to their name. / He couldn’t afford anything.

20. As broke as a dried-up riverbed

Meaning: Completely out of money or resources
Samples: After the failed project, he was as broke as a dried-up riverbed. / She felt as broke as a dried-up riverbed, with no savings left.
To Put it Another Way: She had nothing to work with. / He was financially drained.

21. As poor as a shadow

Meaning: Lacking everything, with nothing left to show for oneself
Samples: After losing his job, he was as poor as a shadow, with nothing left. / She felt as poor as a shadow, constantly struggling.
To Put it Another Way: He had nothing. / She had to make do with almost nothing.

22. As thin as a threadbare blanket

Meaning: Very poor or in poor condition
Samples: His jacket was as thin as a threadbare blanket, barely covering him. / The roof was as thin as a threadbare blanket, leaking with every rain.
To Put it Another Way: His clothes were worn out. / The roof was barely holding up.

23. As poor as a falling star

Meaning: Very poor, like something that fades away
Samples: He was as poor as a falling star, with no real future in sight. / Her dreams were as poor as a falling star, fading out of reach.
To Put it Another Way: He had no hope left. / Her dreams were slipping away.

24. As poor as the grave

Meaning: Without anything, as if lost to time
Samples: The family lived as poor as the grave, with barely enough to eat. / He was as poor as the grave, having lost everything.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing left. / He felt like he had nothing to live for.

25. As poor as a stray dog

Meaning: Living with no shelter or resources
Samples: After being kicked out, he was as poor as a stray dog, wandering the streets. / She felt as poor as a stray dog, with no place to call home.
To Put it Another Way: He had no home. / She was living without any support.

26. As poor as the poorest king

Meaning: Having little, even in comparison to someone who should have wealth
Samples: He was as poor as the poorest king, with only a few coins to his name. / She felt as poor as the poorest king, having lost everything she owned.
To Put it Another Way: He barely had anything. / She had nothing despite her efforts.

27. As lost as a penny in a fountain

Meaning: Feeling totally lost or without resources
Samples: After his company went under, he felt as lost as a penny in a fountain. / She felt as lost as a penny in a fountain, with no direction.
To Put it Another Way: He felt hopeless. / She had no idea where to go next.

28. As poor as a neglected garden

Meaning: Lacking care or resources, like a garden that is not tended to
Samples: The house was as poor as a neglected garden, run down and forgotten. / Her savings were as poor as a neglected garden, overgrown with debt.
To Put it Another Way: The house was in poor condition. / Her savings were wiped out.

29. As starving as a crow

30. As poor as a dust bunny

31. As ragged as a torn flag

32. As poor as the dirt beneath your feet

33. As broke as a dried-up riverbed

34. As destitute as a ghost

35. As starving as a crow

36. As poor as a rainless desert

Meaning: Lacking everything, especially nourishment
Samples: His bank account was as poor as a rainless desert, with nothing growing in it. / She felt as poor as a rainless desert, parched and empty.
To Put it Another Way: His account was empty. / She was struggling to survive.

37. As poor as a broken watch

Meaning: Useless or worthless, with no value
Samples: His plans were as poor as a broken watch, ticking but not going anywhere. / Her situation was as poor as a broken watch, stuck and useless.
To Put it Another Way: His plans were failing. / She felt stuck and unable to move forward.

38. As poor as a ruined garden

Meaning: Destroyed or left in poor condition
Samples: Their hopes were as poor as a ruined garden, nothing but weeds now. / The town felt as poor as a ruined garden, neglected and barren.
To Put it Another Way: Their dreams were crushed. / The town was left behind.

39. As poor as an empty bowl

Meaning: Lacking everything, particularly money
Samples: He was as poor as an empty bowl, with nothing to eat. / Her life felt as poor as an empty bowl, devoid of meaning.
To Put it Another Way: He had nothing to survive on. / She felt empty inside.

40. As poor as a cracked teacup

Meaning: Fragile and incomplete, with little value
Samples: His savings were as poor as a cracked teacup, shattered and broken. / Her spirit was as poor as a cracked teacup, fragile and incomplete.
To Put it Another Way: His funds were depleted. / She felt broken inside.

41. As poor as a forgotten dream

Meaning: Forgotten and unimportant
Samples: The idea was as poor as a forgotten dream, lost in time. / His ambition was as poor as a forgotten dream, fading away.
To Put it Another Way: The idea was irrelevant. / His goals were slipping away.

42. As poor as an abandoned ship

Meaning: Left with nothing, abandoned
Samples: His dreams were as poor as an abandoned ship, stranded on a deserted shore. / The city felt as poor as an abandoned ship, left to rot.
To Put it Another Way: His dreams were lost. / The city was abandoned.

43. As poor as a smudged paper

Meaning: Messed up and lacking clarity or value
Samples: The deal was as poor as a smudged paper, unclear and meaningless. / His handwriting was as poor as a smudged paper, difficult to read.
To Put it Another Way: The deal was weak. / His writing was unreadable.

44. As poor as a forgotten coin

Meaning: Neglected and of little worth
Samples: She felt as poor as a forgotten coin, left in the bottom of a drawer. / His efforts were as poor as a forgotten coin, unnoticed and ignored.
To Put it Another Way: She was overlooked. / His work went unappreciated.

45. As poor as a faded photograph

Meaning: Losing value, worn down
Samples: His dreams were as poor as a faded photograph, losing their color. / The memories were as poor as a faded photograph, blurry and distant.
To Put it Another Way: His dreams lost meaning. / The past seemed far away.

46. As poor as an abandoned house

Meaning: Left with nothing, neglected
Samples: He lived as poor as an abandoned house, with no furniture and no warmth. / Her finances were as poor as an abandoned house, cold and empty.
To Put it Another Way: He had nothing left. / Her savings were gone.

47. As poor as a crumpled note

Meaning: Ruined or worn out, with no value left
Samples: His reputation was as poor as a crumpled note, torn and forgotten. / The contract was as poor as a crumpled note, discarded and useless.
To Put it Another Way: He had no respect left. / The agreement was worthless.

48. As poor as a rainy day without an umbrella

Meaning: Vulnerable and unprepared for the difficulties of life
Samples: He felt as poor as a rainy day without an umbrella, exposed and helpless. / She was as poor as a rainy day without an umbrella, soaked in misery.
To Put it Another Way: He was defenseless. / She felt overwhelmed by her circumstances.

49. As poor as a windblown leaf

Meaning: Lacking stability, drifting with the wind
Samples: He was as poor as a windblown leaf, with no direction in life. / She felt as poor as a windblown leaf, lost and unstable.
To Put it Another Way: He had no purpose. / She felt directionless.

50. As poor as a broken window

Meaning: Broken and lacking value
Samples: Their hopes were as poor as a broken window, shattered and useless. / His dreams were as poor as a broken window, something to be replaced.
To Put it Another Way: They had nothing left. / His ambitions were destroyed.

Find the Topics: Similes for Poverty

Reading Passage: “Struggling to Get By”

Maria looked out of her small apartment window, feeling as poor as a church mouse. Her wallet was as empty as a tin can, and there was barely enough to get by. The bills piled up, and she was as broke as a rusty nail, trying to figure out how to pay them. She hadn’t had a decent meal in days and was as hungry as a wolf, searching for any food she could find.

Her old shoes were as ragged as a torn flag, and her coat was as thin as a threadbare blanket. Her hope seemed as empty as a dry well, and every time she tried to make ends meet, she felt as poor as a barefoot pilgrim, walking with nothing but hope.

But she had no choice but to keep going, feeling as poor as an abandoned house, standing on the edge of collapse. She was tired of fighting, and she felt as broken as a crumpled note, discarded and forgotten.

Your Task:
Can you underline or list all 12 similes for poverty used in this story?

Answer Key

As poor as a church mouse
As empty as a tin can
As broke as a rusty nail
As hungry as a wolf
As ragged as a torn flag
As thin as a threadbare blanket
As empty as a dry well
As poor as a barefoot pilgrim
As poor as an abandoned house
As broken as a crumpled note
As poor as dirt
As poor as a beggar

Conclusion

Similes allow writers to convey complex emotions in a simple and effective way. In this passage, similes helped to show Maria’s struggles with poverty and the difficulties she faced. Using comparisons like “as poor as a church mouse” or “as hungry as a wolf” paints a vivid picture of her dire situation. These comparisons deepen our understanding of the emotional and physical toll that poverty takes, making the story more engaging and impactful for readers.