[go|come] down in the world
1
to experience a fall in social or financial status
The idiom "go down in the world" is believed to have originated in Britain in the 19th century, and may have originally referred to a person who had fallen from a position of wealth or prominence due to financial difficulties or other setbacks. The phrase is often used to describe a person who has experienced a significant decline in their social or economic status.
- She has come down in the world since her divorce, losing her social status and many of her friends.
- Since he lost his job, he has gone down in the world and struggles to make ends meet.
- The family's financial troubles have caused them to come down in the world, and they're selling their assets to survive.