- Busted: (Informal slang, esp. US/Can) Having no money; broke. (Also means caught doing something wrong, context is key).
- Hard up: (Informal) Lacking sufficient money; experiencing financial difficulty. Implies a state of need or struggle.
Explanation
Origin
- Busted: Likely derived from bust, meaning to go bankrupt or fail financially, a term used since the 19th century. The specific slang usage for 'broke' is more 20th century.
- Hard up: A descriptive phrase combining hard (difficult) and up, possibly from idioms like up against it (facing difficulties). Common since the mid-19th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- On empty / Running on fumes (Figurative, implies resources depleted)
- Cleaned out / Wiped out (Implies money was recently lost/spent)
- Got no dough/cash
- Up against it (Financially)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Flat fucking broke
- Poor as shit / Poor as dirt
- Down on my/his/her luck (Implies misfortune leading to hardship)
Milder:
- Financially strained / Financially challenged
- Experiencing financial difficulties / Facing hardship
- Short of funds / Lacking resources
Situational Appropriateness
- Both are informal.
- Busted is more slangy, primarily North American. Avoid in formal contexts.
- Hard up is slightly less slangy and more descriptive of genuine difficulty. Could be used cautiously in semi-formal contexts when describing hardship respectfully.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Busted crucially depends on context. It frequently means 'caught by authorities' or 'broken'. The financial meaning needs to be clear from the situation.
- Hard up clearly means lacking money, implying genuine difficulty rather than just temporary lack of spending money.
Examples
- Busted: I spent all my money on textbooks, so I'm totally busted until my next student loan comes through.
- Hard up: After the factory closed, a lot of families in the town were really hard up.
- Hard up: Can you lend me $20? I'm a bit hard up this week.
Dialogue
Context
(Busted example)
A: Hey, wanna grab lunch out today?
B: Aw man, I wish! I'm totally busted after paying car insurance. Gotta eat ramen at home.
A: Ah, bummer. Okay, maybe next week!
(Hard up example)
C: How's your neighbour doing since his hours got cut?
D: He's pretty hard up, honestly. Mentioned struggling to pay the electricity bill.
C: That's really worrying. Is there a local food bank or something that could help?
Social Media Examples
- Tweet (US): Ugh, car repairs wiped me out. Totally busted until payday. #AdultingIsHard #Broke
- Post (Community Group): Does anyone know of resources for families who are hard up? My friend is really struggling. #CommunitySupport #Help
- Comment: Sorry to hear you're hard up right now, sending positive vibes.
Response Patterns
- Busted: Sympathy, shared experience (Ugh, same here), maybe an offer to cover a small expense (Don't worry, I got this coffee).
- Hard up: More serious sympathy (Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that), expressions of concern, possibly more concrete offers of help if appropriate.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Busted: Accepting the situation, changing plans.
- Hard up: Might lead to more serious discussion about the financial situation, job prospects, or need for support.
Conversation Starter
- No. Explanations for inability to spend, or descriptions of someone's financial state.
Intonation
- Busted: Often casual, maybe slightly dramatic or rueful. Stress on BUSTED.
- Hard up: Often more serious, implying genuine difficulty or need. Stress on HARD UP.
Generation Differences
- Busted (meaning broke) is common across generations in North America, perhaps slightly more used by younger people.
- Hard up is widely understood but might sound slightly more traditional or older-fashioned to some younger speakers, although still in common use.
Regional Variations
- Busted (meaning broke) is common in US/Canada, less common in UK/Aus/NZ where broke or skint are preferred.
- Hard up is understood and used more broadly across English-speaking regions.