IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishwith only the clothes on one's back
Meaning: With no possessions at all.
Example: “They arrived at the border with only the clothes on their backs.”
Origin: What a person wears is all they carry away. The phrase is found from the 19th century, often describing refugees and fire victims.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: con lo puesto Literally: With what is worn
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