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from hunger. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
from hunger, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
from hunger in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
from hunger you have here. The definition of the word
from hunger will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
from hunger, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Is this a calque from German or Yiddish?”)
Pronunciation
Prepositional phrase
from hunger
- (idiomatic) Of poor quality; tolerable only in desperate circumstances.
- She looked good, but as an actress she was strictly from hunger.
1939, Nathanael West, The Day of the Locusts, page 17:"That's the place for you, the San Berdoo. I live there so I ought to know. The owner's strictly from hunger. Come on, I'll get you fixed up swell."
2007, Paula Marantz Cohen, Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATs, page 70:This place is a dump. I mean your bathrooms are from hunger. Where's the Jacuzzi? Where's the 'his and her' sinks? Where's the towel warmer?
2008, Paul M. Levitt, Come with me to Babylon, page 115:"The men in this hamlet are either married, or worn out, or ignorant, or religious zealots, or indigent." Esther was forced to agree that the boys in this town were from hunger, but said, "That's what marriage brokers are for...."
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see from, hunger.
Usage notes
- Commonly used in the phrase strictly from hunger. Comparative and superlative use with more and most is possible, but very rare.