"dirt poor" の定義と意味

What is the origin of the idiom "dirt poor" and when to use it?

The idiom "dirt poor" has its origin in the late 19th or early 20th century. The term "dirt" here is used figuratively to denote extreme poverty, suggesting that someone is as poor as the soil or dirt itself. This idiom is used to describe someone who is extremely impoverished, lacking basic necessities, and living in dire financial conditions.