DOWN-AND-OUT Definition & Meaning

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down-and-out

[ doun-uhnd-out, -uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

without any money, or means of support, or prospects; destitute; penniless.
without physical strength or stamina; disabled; incapacitated.
too physically weakened by repeated defeats to qualify as a competent professional boxer.

noun

Also down-and-outer. a person who is down-and-out.

down-and-out

adjective

without any means of livelihood; impoverished and, often, socially outcast

noun

a person who is destitute and, often, homeless; a social outcast or derelict

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of down-and-out¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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Idioms and Phrases

Lacking funds or prospects; destitute, penniless. For example, After losing his job, car, and home, he was completely down and out . This term probably originated in boxing, where it alludes to the fighter who is knocked down and stays down for a given time, thereby losing the bout. [c. 1900] Also see down for the count .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That was like a complete down-and-out crying moment, and we just didn’t really know what was next.

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Housing space was now just for patients, not simply down-and-out veterans.

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After back-to-back losses to good teams, the Commanders take out their frustrations on the down-and-out Cowboys.

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On her own talk show, she occasionally hired the most down-and-out standups to work in the writers room.

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Her record-breaking haul is all the sweeter because two years ago she was a self-described "down-and-out" in the music industry.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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