down to chili and beans

down to chili and beans

Broke or destitute. It sounds like Betsy is down to chili and beans, so what makes you think she's going to loan you money?
See also: and, bean, down
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

down to chili and beans

Rur. very poor; down to one's last penny. Mary and Tom aren't doing too well. They're down to chili and beans. Many's the time I was down to chili and beans, but I always pulled through.
See also: and, bean, down
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • come a gutser
  • be down to (one)
  • be down to somebody/something
  • be down to something
  • be down to (do something)
  • bounce up and down
  • close down
  • close down and shut down
  • come a cropper
  • come a-cropper