destitute, exhausted, or in decline; (of an economy, household, or business) depressed; (of clothing or life) tattered or hard

(idiom) to value the broom as one's own; to cherish something of little value simply because it belongs to oneself or has sentimental value

The people's livelihood is reduced to extreme poverty and hardship; used to describe a time of famine, economic ruin, or the aftermath of war.

To throw something away or abandon something without the slightest regret; often used to describe giving up power, wealth, or status.

To cast something away like a pair of worn-out shoes; to discard something one no longer values or considers worthless.

Literally meaning a worn-out tongue and scorched lips; used to describe exhausting oneself by talking or arguing at great length.

shabby; damaged

Literally "lips parched and tongue worn out"; used to describe the state of being physically and mentally exhausted from trying to explain, argue, or persuade.

(literary) to mobilize all of one's military forces for a punitive war; to call up every soldier

literally to possess a tattered broom at home but value it as if it were worth a thousand pieces of gold; to cherish something of little value simply because it belongs to oneself

(humble) I; me; myself; used as a polite way to refer to oneself in formal situations

(humble) A polite way to refer to one's own friend when speaking to others.

humble way of referring to one's own country

my place; my home town (humble)

(humble) my place or my hometown

worn-out shoes; (metaphorical) a worthless thing

To view worldly honors and high position as being as worthless as a pair of worn-out straw shoes; used to express contempt or a complete lack of interest in fame and wealth.

to regard something like a worn-out shoe; to treat something as worthless or beneath one's notice

to cherish something of little value simply because it is one's own; to treasure one's own humble possessions

to cherish a possession of little value because it is one's own; literally 'my worn-out broom is worth a thousand pieces of gold'

(bound form) a decorative knee-covering apron worn on the front of official or ceremonial robes in ancient China, typically made of leather and color-coded by rank

weary and weak; tired out (of people or animals)

To view something as if it were a pair of worn-out shoes; used to express extreme contempt or to describe casting something aside because it is of no value.

to regard something as an old pair of straw sandals and throw it away; to treat something with utter contempt

(literary) accumulated evils; deep-rooted ills or corruptions

impoverished; destitute; depressed in business; tattered or ragged