live/sleep rough
live rough
To be homeless and thus be forced to live and sleep outside. The government's aim is to have the number of people living rough halved in five years' time. I lived rough for a couple of years after my house was repossessed. It's not something I would wish on anyone.
sleep rough
To sleep outside at night, usually because one has no home or shelter. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The government's aim is to have the number of people sleeping rough halved in five years' time. I slept rough for a couple of years after my house was repossessed. It's not something I would wish on anyone.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
sleep rough
BRITISHWhen people sleep rough, they sleep out of doors, usually because they have no home. It makes me so sad when I see young people begging or sleeping rough on the streets. Note: You can also say that someone lives rough. He looked like he'd been living rough for the last few days.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
live rough
live and sleep outdoors as a consequence of having no proper home.sleep rough
sleep in uncomfortable conditions, usually out of doors. BritishFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
live/sleep ˈrough
live or sleep outside in the streets because you have no home or money: Hundreds of people are sleeping rough on the streets of the city.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017