poor as Job
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Extremely poor, destitute.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Sir Plantagenet's son is as poor as Job; so she must have recourse to Marvel; and, if she gives him proper encouragement, he'll pay the money in a trice.
Quoted attestation: 1804, Maria Edgeworth, "The Will", Popular Tales, 1813, Paraclete Potter, page 101.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “poor as Job” mean?
Extremely poor, destitute.
Is “poor as Job” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.