as poor as poor can be

[Englishlanguage]

Hello,
I've heard this expression in a sentence similar to the one below

My father was born in Perù as poor as poor can be

What does it exactly mean? Does it have a particular meaning or is it just a way to stress that he was really poor?

[salah eddine]

Hello,
I think it means he was extremely poor.

[amigos4]

Hello,
I've heard this expression in a sentence similar to the one below

My father was born in Perù as poor as poor can be

What does it exactly mean? Does it have a particular meaning or is it just a way to stress that he was really poor?

'As poor as poor can be' means you are definitely at the lowest end of the money chain! It doesn't get much worse!

Cheers,
Amigos4

[Englishlanguage]

Thank you.
Does it sound like a formal expression?

[amigos4]

Thank you.
Does it sound like a formal expression?

Definitely not formal! It is commonly used in the US.

Cheers,
Amigos4

[Englishlanguage]

Definitely not formal! It is commonly used in the US.

Cheers,
Amigos4

Thank you very much. I think I was misled by the strange construction. As poor as the poor can be would make more sense to me

[amigos4]

Thank you very much. I think I was misled by the strange construction. As poor as the poor can be would make more sense to me

Nice point! However, I'm confident that there are hierarchical levels of poverty among 'the poor.' When you are 'as poor as poor can be' you've definitely hit the bottom!

Cheers,
Amigos4