Live/sleep rough
verb
To live or sleep outside because you have no home and no money.
After losing his job, he had to live rough for several months.

Often appears as...
- live rough on the streets
- sleep rough in park
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To live or sleep outside because you have no home and no money.
After losing his job, he had to live rough for several months.

Often appears as...
- live rough on the streets
- sleep rough in park
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1

Socioeconomic Context
Used to highlight poverty or social issues leading to homelessness.

Charities help people who are forced to live rough.
Emotional Weight
Evokes empathy or sadness for the hardships of homelessness.

He shared a heartbreaking story of sleeping rough in winter.
Informal Speech
Common in casual conversation, not formal writing.

I overheard someone say they've been living rough lately.
Socioeconomic Context
Used to highlight poverty or social issues leading to homelessness.

Charities help people who are forced to live rough.
Emotional Weight
Evokes empathy or sadness for the hardships of homelessness.

He shared a heartbreaking story of sleeping rough in winter.
Informal Speech
Common in casual conversation, not formal writing.

I overheard someone say they've been living rough lately.
Socioeconomic Context
Used to highlight poverty or social issues leading to homelessness.

Charities help people who are forced to live rough.
Emotional Weight
Evokes empathy or sadness for the hardships of homelessness.

He shared a heartbreaking story of sleeping rough in winter.
Informal Speech
Common in casual conversation, not formal writing.

I overheard someone say they've been living rough lately.
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