Being poor means not having enough money or things that people need. Sometimes, people use similes to describe being poor. A simile is a way to compare two things using words like “like” or “as.” Similes help us understand what being poor feels like by comparing it to something else we know. This makes the idea easier to picture and talk about.
In this article, you will learn many similes that describe being poor. Each simile shows a different way to talk about not having much. You will also see simple examples so you know how to use them. These similes can help you understand stories, songs, and conversations where people talk about money or hard times.
Similes for Poor
1. As poor as a church mouse
Meaning: Very poor with almost no money
For Example: He was as poor as a church mouse after losing his job. / My old bike is as poor as a church mouse barely working.
Alternatively: She felt as poor as a church mouse when she couldn’t buy lunch.
2. Like an empty wallet
Meaning: Having no money at all
For Example: After buying so many toys, my wallet was like an empty wallet. / His pocket felt like an empty wallet before payday.
Alternatively: I looked in my purse and it was like an empty wallet.
3. As broke as a window
Meaning: Totally without money
For Example: I’m as broke as a window after paying all the bills. / She was as broke as a window at the end of the month.
Alternatively: They were as broke as a window after the trip.
4. Like a dried-up well
Meaning: Having no resources or money left
For Example: His savings were like a dried-up well after the car repair. / The town’s funds were like a dried-up well this year.
Alternatively: Her bank account felt like a dried-up well.
5. As empty as a hollow tree
Meaning: Having nothing inside, no money or goods
For Example: His pockets were as empty as a hollow tree. / The store shelves looked as empty as a hollow tree after the sale.
Alternatively: My lunchbox was as empty as a hollow tree today.
6. Like a broken piggy bank
Meaning: No more money saved
For Example: After buying candy, my piggy bank was like a broken piggy bank. / She spent all her money and was like a broken piggy bank.
Alternatively: His savings were like a broken piggy bank after the trip.
7. As poor as dirt
Meaning: Having very little money
For Example: After the holidays, I felt as poor as dirt. / The family was as poor as dirt but still happy.
Alternatively: The old man lived as poor as dirt but helped others.
8. Like a ragged shirt
Meaning: Worn out and poor-looking
For Example: His clothes were like a ragged shirt after months without new ones. / She wore a coat that looked like a ragged shirt.
Alternatively: The dog’s fur was like a ragged shirt, thin and torn.
9. As thin as a penny
Meaning: Very poor or skinny
For Example: He looked as thin as a penny after being sick. / Their money was as thin as a penny this week.
Alternatively: The food was as thin as a penny, barely enough.
10. Like a shadow with no weight
Meaning: Weak or poor, almost nothing
For Example: Their home was like a shadow with no weight bare and empty. / I felt like a shadow with no weight when I had no money.
Alternatively: His hopes were like a shadow with no weight.
11. As poor as a leaf in winter
Meaning: Very poor and weak
For Example: She felt as poor as a leaf in winter without a job. / Their town was as poor as a leaf in winter during the cold months.
Alternatively: The garden looked as poor as a leaf in winter.
12. Like a cracked cup
Meaning: Something broken and not useful
For Example: His old shoes were like a cracked cup ready to fall apart. / The roof was like a cracked cup after the storm.
Alternatively: The toy was like a cracked cup, useless now.
13. As empty as a bucket with a hole
Meaning: Having nothing because it leaks away
For Example: His money was as empty as a bucket with a hole. / The family’s savings were as empty as a bucket with a hole.
Alternatively: My piggy bank was like a bucket with a hole after the trip.
14. Like a house with no roof
Meaning: Poor and not protected
For Example: Their home was like a house with no roof during the storm. / The shelter felt like a house with no roof cold and poor.
Alternatively: His clothes were like a house with no roof, not enough for winter.
15. As poor as a stray dog
Meaning: Having no home or money
For Example: He felt as poor as a stray dog wandering the streets. / The abandoned pet was as poor as a stray dog.
Alternatively: The kids without toys were as poor as stray dogs.
16. Like a burnt-out candle
Meaning: Used up and empty
For Example: After working all day, I felt like a burnt-out candle. / Their energy was like a burnt-out candle after a long week.
Alternatively: His money was like a burnt-out candle gone.
17. As thin as paper
Meaning: Very poor or weak
For Example: She looked as thin as paper after being sick. / His funds were as thin as paper by the end of the month.
Alternatively: The meal was as thin as paper, not enough to eat.
18. Like a broken-down cart
Meaning: Old and falling apart, poor condition
For Example: His bike was like a broken-down cart hard to ride. / The car was like a broken-down cart after years of use.
Alternatively: Their old wagon was like a broken-down cart.
19. As poor as a forgotten book
Meaning: Left out and not cared for
For Example: The old house was as poor as a forgotten book in the attic. / His toys were as poor as a forgotten book, left to gather dust.
Alternatively: The garden was like a forgotten book neglected.
20. Like a puddle in the desert
Meaning: Small and not enough in a big place
For Example: Their money was like a puddle in the desert too little to last. / His help was like a puddle in the desert barely enough.
Alternatively: The rain was like a puddle in the desert, gone fast.
21. As empty as a bird’s nest in fall
Meaning: No possessions or food
For Example: The fridge was as empty as a bird’s nest in fall. / Their cupboards were as empty as a bird’s nest in fall.
Alternatively: The town felt as empty as a bird’s nest in fall.
22. Like a single thread holding a cloth
Meaning: Weak and about to break
For Example: Their money was like a single thread holding a cloth together. / His patience was like a single thread, ready to snap.
Alternatively: The old sweater was like a single thread holding it up.
23. As poor as a cracked pot
Meaning: Not useful or valuable
For Example: His savings were as poor as a cracked pot after the flood. / The old shoes were like a cracked pot worn out.
Alternatively: The wallet was like a cracked pot, with no money inside.
24. Like a forgotten penny on the ground
Meaning: Worth little and ignored
For Example: He felt like a forgotten penny on the ground, unnoticed. / The old coins were like forgotten pennies on the ground.
Alternatively: The gift was like a forgotten penny, not valued.
25. As dry as a desert
Meaning: Having no money or resources
For Example: Her pockets were as dry as a desert after paying bills. / The town was as dry as a desert with no jobs.
Alternatively: The farm was as dry as a desert during the drought.
26. Like a wilted flower
Meaning: Weak and poor in health or money
For Example: She looked like a wilted flower without enough food. / Their hopes were like wilted flowers after bad news.
Alternatively: The garden was like a wilted flower in the heat.
27. As poor as a lost sock
Meaning: Small and not useful
For Example: He was as poor as a lost sock with no matching pair. / The broken toy was like a lost sock, missing pieces.
Alternatively: The old coat was like a lost sock, torn and worn.
28. Like a bare tree in winter
Meaning: Without anything, poor or empty
For Example: The room was like a bare tree in winter empty and cold. / His wallet was like a bare tree, with no money left.
Alternatively: The shelf was like a bare tree, without books or food.
29. As poor as a sinking boat
Meaning: Losing everything fast
For Example: The business was as poor as a sinking boat after the storm. / Their savings went down like a sinking boat.
Alternatively: His hopes were as poor as a sinking boat.
30. Like a cracked windowpane
Meaning: Broken and weak
For Example: The old house had windows like cracked windowpanes. / His glasses were like cracked windowpanes, hard to see through.
Alternatively: The screen was like a cracked windowpane after the fall.
31. As empty as a pumpkin after Halloween
Meaning: No food or money left
For Example: Their fridge was as empty as a pumpkin after Halloween. / The candy jar was as empty as a pumpkin after the party.
Alternatively: The basket was like a pumpkin after Halloween empty.
32. Like a dry leaf in the wind
Meaning: Weak and poor, easy to lose
For Example: His strength was like a dry leaf in the wind. / Their chances were like dry leaves blown away.
Alternatively: The hopes were like dry leaves drifting away.
33. As poor as a stone on the road
Meaning: Small and ignored
For Example: He felt as poor as a stone on the road no one noticed him. / The lost coin was like a stone on the road.
Alternatively: The gift was like a stone on the road, forgotten.
34. Like a cracked bell
Meaning: Broken and not useful
For Example: The old bell was like a cracked bell, making no sound. / His voice was like a cracked bell after shouting.
Alternatively: The cup was like a cracked bell, broken.
35. As thin as a blade of grass
Meaning: Very weak or poor
For Example: He looked as thin as a blade of grass after being sick. / Their food supply was as thin as a blade of grass.
Alternatively: The money was as thin as a blade of grass, barely there.
36. Like a torn page in a book
Meaning: Damaged and less valuable
For Example: The old book had pages like torn pages. / Their plans were like torn pages, not complete.
Alternatively: The letter was like a torn page, hard to read.
37. As poor as an empty bird feeder
Meaning: No food or money available
For Example: The pantry was as poor as an empty bird feeder. / Their pockets were as poor as an empty bird feeder.
Alternatively: The garden was like an empty bird feeder in winter.
38. Like a small pebble in a big ocean
Meaning: Small and powerless
For Example: His help was like a small pebble in a big ocean. / Their money was like a pebble in a big ocean very little.
Alternatively: The problem seemed like a pebble in the ocean.
39. As poor as a forgotten shoe
Meaning: Left out and useless
For Example: He felt as poor as a forgotten shoe under the bed. / The old toy was like a forgotten shoe, not cared for.
Alternatively: Her jacket was like a forgotten shoe, torn and worn.
40. Like a dried-up riverbed
Meaning: No water, no life, poor
For Example: Their funds were like a dried-up riverbed. / The farm was like a dried-up riverbed in the drought.
Alternatively: His hopes were like a dried-up riverbed, empty.
41. As weak as a broken branch
Meaning: Not strong, poor
For Example: He was as weak as a broken branch after the cold. / The old tree had branches as weak as broken branches.
Alternatively: Their money was as weak as a broken branch.
42. Like a worn-out shoe sole
Meaning: Old and poor condition
For Example: His shoes were like worn-out soles, ready to fall apart. / The boots were like worn-out soles after hiking.
Alternatively: The carpet was like worn-out soles, torn.
43. As poor as a stone in a sock
Meaning: Uncomfortable and poor
For Example: He felt as poor as a stone in a sock all day long. / The day was as poor as a stone in a sock.
Alternatively: The broken chair was like a stone in a sock painful.
44. Like a forgotten toy in the corner
Meaning: Left alone and poor
For Example: The old doll was like a forgotten toy in the corner. / The bike was like a forgotten toy, unused for years.
Alternatively: Their hopes were like forgotten toys in the corner.
45. As dry as old bread
Meaning: Not fresh or good, poor quality
For Example: The food was as dry as old bread. / Their money was as dry as old bread after the trip.
Alternatively: His jokes were as dry as old bread no fun.
46. Like a cracked mirror
Meaning: Broken and not useful
For Example: The mirror was like a cracked mirror after the fall. / His plans were like a cracked mirror, broken.
Alternatively: The window was like a cracked mirror, shattered.
47. As poor as a wilted plant
Meaning: Weak and dying
For Example: The garden was as poor as a wilted plant without water. / He felt as poor as a wilted plant after the storm.
Alternatively: Their savings were like wilted plants shrinking.
48. Like an empty cup
Meaning: Having nothing inside
For Example: Her wallet was like an empty cup. / The gas tank was like an empty cup after the trip.
Alternatively: His energy was like an empty cup, gone.
49. As poor as a dusty attic
Meaning: Full of old things but no value
For Example: The old house was as poor as a dusty attic. / Their money was as poor as a dusty attic after the bills.
Alternatively: The basement looked like a dusty attic empty.
50. Like a forgotten corner of a room
Meaning: Left out and poor For Example: The toy was like a forgotten corner of a room ignored. / Their plans were like forgotten corners, unused. Alternatively: The old clothes were like forgotten corners of a room.
Similes for Poor: True/False Quiz
- Saying someone is “as poor as a church mouse” means they have a lot of money.
True / False - If your wallet is “like an empty wallet,” it means you have no money.
True / False - Being “as broke as a window” means you have plenty of cash.
True / False - Saying money is “like a dried-up well” means it has run out.
True / False - If someone’s pockets are “as empty as a hollow tree,” they have no money.
True / False - Being “like a cracked cup” means something is strong and useful.
True / False - Saying savings are “like a broken piggy bank” means no money is left.
True / False - If a home is “like a house with no roof,” it is poor and unprotected.
True / False - Saying someone is “as poor as a stray dog” means they have a comfortable home.
True / False - Being “like a burnt-out candle” means used up and empty.
True / False - If someone’s clothes are “like a ragged shirt,” they look worn out.
True / False - Saying a person is “like a cracked mirror” means they are strong and healthy.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Similes Master! You really understand how similes describe being poor.
- 8–11 Correct Answers: You really get Similes nice work!
- 4–7 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Similes together!
Conclusion
Talking about being poor can be hard, but similes help make it easier to understand. They compare being poor to things we know, like an empty wallet or a broken piggy bank. These comparisons help us see and feel what it means to have little money or things.
By learning these similes, you can better understand stories and conversations about money. You can also use them to explain your own ideas clearly. Keep practicing, and soon you will recognize many similes all around you.
