had no lire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had no lire" is correct and usable in written English, assuming "lire" refers to the former currency of Italy.
You can use it when discussing a lack of money or financial resources, particularly in a historical or contextual setting related to Italy. Example: "During my travels in Italy, I found myself in a situation where I had no lire to pay for my meal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These boxes do not yet accept euro coins, and we had no lire.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Treatment with LIRA or mannitol alone had no effect on scratch width, as compared to the control group.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

"They're reading the comments with no staff filter," Lira explains, who has witnessed members reference Facebook and Twitter in closed-door discussions (Lira had no knowledge of the impact of social media on Smith's SOPA provision, and was speaking, generally, about how Congressmen are attuned to tech-related issues).

TechCrunch

If we still had the lire, we'd have stayed more competitive as agricultural producers".

The New York Times

So he had 1.01 billion lire in cash and 16.43 billion lire in cash equivalent (ie, the two remaining bank cheques)—17.44 billion lire in total.

The Economist

So Fininvest Srl still had 17.44 billion lire outstanding, even after this bank-cheque shuffling (steps 2 to 4 .In other words, the 17.44 billion lire needed to disappear from its balance sheet.

The Economist

By next January, the single European currency will be a reality, and in 2002 the Italians will no longer have the lira, the Germans the Deutsche mark, or the French the franc: the Europeans will have the euro.

The New Yorker

He had 20,000 lira in his pocket.

The Guardian

God, if I had a lira for every time I was asked that question as a kid, I would be able to buy... well, a lot of cappuccinos.

Huffington Post

I thought about the acclaimed Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (14 lira, or $8.70) as Erol and I biked through the lovely waterfront park near his apartment on Sunday morning (along with half the rest of Istanbul, it seemed), and I thought about the famed Istanbul Archaeological Museums (10 lira, $6.25) as we had a 3 lira ($1.90) fish sandwich afterward.

The New York Times

After a late bite and a 6.50 lira ($4) shared van back across to Kadikoy, I had spent 60.95 lira, or $38.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "had no lire", ensure the context makes it clear you're referring to the former Italian currency. Consider specifying the time period to avoid confusion, as the lira was replaced by the euro in 2002.

Common error

Avoid using "had no lire" without providing context, as many contemporary readers may not be familiar with the lira. Instead, clarify by saying something like "had no Italian lire" or "had no lira, the former Italian currency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had no lire" functions as a statement of possession, specifically indicating the absence of the Italian lira. This is evident in the Ludwig examples, where it denotes a lack of this specific currency. The phrase combines the past tense of the verb "have" with a negative quantifier ("no") and a noun ("lire").

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had no lire" is grammatically sound and understandable, but its applicability is limited since the Italian lira is no longer in circulation, having been replaced by the euro in 2002. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While it's suitable for historical contexts, modern usage requires clarification to avoid confusion. Alternatives such as "had no money" or "was broke" are more broadly applicable but lack the specificity of the original phrase. Therefore, consider the context and audience when choosing to use "had no lire".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had no money

Replaces "lire" with the more general term "money", indicating a lack of funds without specifying the currency.

was broke

A more informal way of saying someone had no money at all.

was penniless

Emphasizes a complete lack of money, suggesting poverty.

had no funds

A more formal term for lacking money, often used in financial contexts.

was without cash

Highlights the absence of physical currency.

had no currency

Similar to "had no money", but emphasizes the lack of any form of currency.

was impecunious

A formal and somewhat archaic term for being poor or having little money.

had no financial resources

A broad term encompassing all types of financial assets.

was indigent

Describes a state of extreme poverty, lacking basic necessities.

had exhausted all funds

Implies that previous resources have been used up.

FAQs

What does "had no lire" mean?

The phrase "had no lire" means someone did not possess any Italian lira, which was the currency of Italy before the euro was adopted in 2002. It indicates a lack of funds specifically in that currency.

What can I say instead of "had no lire"?

You can use alternatives like "had no money", "was broke", or "was penniless" depending on the context. However, these alternatives don't specify the currency.

Is it correct to say "had no lire" today?

Yes, it's grammatically correct, but it refers to a historical context since the lira is no longer in circulation. Use it when discussing past events or situations involving the Italian lira before 2002.

What is the historical significance of the lira?

The lira was the official currency of Italy for over a century, playing a crucial role in the nation's economic history. Its replacement by the euro marked a significant shift in European monetary policy.