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beggar

Definition

  • noun: a person who lives by begging for money, food, etc.
  • noun: one that begs
  • verb: to make (someone or something) very poor
  • verb: to reduce to 'beggary'
  • used in the phrases 'beggar belief' and 'beggar description' to talk about something that is very difficult to believe or describe
  • synonyms: petitioner, impoverish, pauper

Examples

  • It almost 'beggars belief' [=it is very hard to believe] that anyone can be so cruel.

  • I heard you won the contest! You lucky 'beggar'!

  • a plot so complex that it 'beggars description'

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) the battle of Carthage. The massacre of Carthage. Guten tag. Oh, why don't you go down to the prison and round up all the beggars and thieves. We've done that. If you want to give away the best gladiators in the whole of the empire, I want double the rates. (..)
    2000 Gladiator