# the cupboard is bare

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-cupboard-is-bare
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

There is little to no food or money.

## Examples

- We cannot cook dinner because the cupboard is bare.
- I checked the kitchen before going to the store because the cupboard is bare.
- After a long month of unexpected expenses, the family realized the cupboard is bare and they must wait for their next paycheck.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.