subdict-logo

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

  • (..) for a dyin' man? I got no room for any Southern scum, alive or dead. Get out of the way! I reckon he'd rather try and walk it at that. Giddap! Jump, you gray-backed beggars! Act like they won the war! Now you come on and give me them pants, Mist' Kennedy. Come on. (..)
    1939 Gone with the Wind