Definition of the word hard up

The phrase "hard up" originally came from the nautical world, where it was used to describe a ship's position when it was running low on provisions or funds. The term "hard" in this context meant "scarcity" or "lack," implying that it was difficult for the ship to make ends meet. The word "up" was added to convey a sense of difficulty or struggle, as being "hard up" was a challenging position to be in. Over time, the phrase "hard up" made its way into the larger lexicon and came to describe a person's financial or material situation as well. It implies that the person is in a state of necessity, where they are having a hard time making enough money or resources to cover their basic needs. In short, "hard up" can be seen as a nautical-turned-colloquial expression that conveys the difficulties and struggles associated with financial insecurity.