on one's uppers

Meanings

prepositional phrase

destitute; poor.
“We are bound toward the scuppers, And the time has come to act, Or we’ll both be on our uppers For a fact!”
1902, Guy Wetmore Carryl, How a Cat Was Annoyed and a Poet Was Booted
Synonyms: down on one's uppers

prepositional phrasedestitute; poor.

Similar

Also see

From uppers (“the top part of a leather shoe”), having worn through the sole.

Cite this entry

APA

on one's uppers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20uppers

MLA

“on one's uppers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20uppers. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on one's uppers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20uppers.