Someone or somewhere down-at-heel looks tired, shabby, and not well cared for, because there is not enough money. A down-at-heel hotel has worn carpets; a down-at-heel person may wear old shoes and a tired coat. The picture behind it is a shoe whose heel is worn right down — a sign you cannot buy new ones.

Someone or somewhere down-at-heel一個人或一個地方如果down-at-heel looks tired, shabby, and not well cared for看起來就是疲憊、破舊、沒有好好整理, because there is not enough money因為錢不夠。A down-at-heel hotel has worn carpetsdown-at-heel的旅館地毯會是磨損的; a down-at-heel person may wear old shoes and a tired coatdown-at-heel的人可能穿著舊鞋和一件顯得疲憊的外套。The picture behind it is a shoe whose heel is worn right down這個詞背後的畫面是一雙鞋跟磨到快沒了的鞋 — a sign you cannot buy new ones這是你買不起新鞋的象徵

Though actually, people now use it as much for streets, shops, and buildings as for people, and it feels a little old and British; younger speakers often just say run-down or shabby.

Though actually不過實際上, people now use it as much for streets, shops, and buildings as for people現在大家用這個詞形容街道、商店和建築物跟形容人一樣常見, and it feels a little old and British而且這個詞感覺有點老派、很英式; younger speakers often just say run-down or shabby年輕人常常就直接說run-down或shabby

Said about a person it can sting, so kind teachers use it carefully. You will also see down at heel and down-at-the-heels.

Said about a person用來形容一個人的時候 it can sting這個詞可能會刺痛人, so kind teachers use it carefully所以體貼的老師會小心使用。You will also see down at heel and down-at-the-heels你也會看到down at heel和down-at-the-heels這兩種寫法