The Hungry Forties
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A term appUed to the period prior to the repeal of the Corn Laws by Sir Robert Peel in 1846, when, owing to the high price of food, distress was very common, among the poor.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Hungry Forties” mean?
A term appUed to the period prior to the repeal of the Corn Laws by Sir Robert Peel in 1846, when, owing to the high price of food, distress was very common, among the poor.
Is “The Hungry Forties” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.