poor as a church mouse
Meaning: Extremely poor.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “When they married, they were as poor as church mice.”
Category: Animals
Origin: A church has no kitchen or pantry, so a mouse living there finds nothing to eat. The comparison is recorded in English from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Portuguese: matar cachorro a grito — literally: to kill a dog by shouting
More idioms — Animals
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- wouldn't hurt a fly — Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes — Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- not my circus, not my monkeys — It's not my problem, so I'm staying out of it.
- birds of a feather flock together — People with similar interests or character tend to spend time together.
- a bird-brain — A silly or scatterbrained person.
More English idioms
- go all out — To make the greatest possible effort.
- at the end of the day — When everything is taken into account; in the end.
- tough luck — Said when nothing can be done about a disappointment, often without much sympathy.
- cut to the chase — To get straight to the point.
- be lost for words — To be so surprised or moved that one cannot speak.
- know the score — To understand the real situation, including its less pleasant facts.
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