on one's uppers

bad off bankrupt beggared beggarly behind the eight ball broke destitute dirt poor down-and-out empty-handed flat flat broke fortuneless hard up impecunious impoverished in need in want indigent insolvent low meager moneyless needy pauperized penniless penurious pinched poverty-stricken reduced scanty stone broke strapped suffering truly needy underprivileged unprosperous