In reduced circumstances


What's the meaning of the phrase 'In reduced circumstances'?

Euphemism for poverty or bankruptcy.

What's the origin of the phrase 'In reduced circumstances'?

In Georgian and Victorian England the word ‘circumstances’ was commonly used to mean ‘material welfare; means’. A person who had fallen on hard times and could no longer support their previous lifestyle was said to be ‘in reduced circumstances’. An early example of that in print is found in Lord Henry Brougham’s novel Albert Lunel, 1844:

Born of noble family… reduced in its circumstances.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.