The phrase "lived in the gutter" refers to an individual's exceptionally low or degraded state of existence. Primarily used figuratively, it describes a person's extremely poverty-stricken, miserable, or morally deprived circumstances, often characterized by homelessness, destitution, and debauchery.
Metaphorically drawing its meaning from the literal association of gutters with filth and lowly conditions, this expression implies that a person has hit rock bottom and is trapped in a life devoid of dignity, hope, or social standing. It suggests that they are relegated to the lowest rungs of society, bereft of any stable home, financial means, or prospects for betterment. It denotes a state of complete abandonment, isolation, and marginalization from mainstream society.
The phrase can also connote a person's moral decay or depravity, implying that they have engaged in immoral, unethical, or illicit activities. It suggests that such an individual habitually indulges in vice, criminal behavior, or self-destructive habits, thus further deepening their social exclusion and personal downfall.
In essence, to have "lived in the gutter" fundamentally evokes a sense of extreme desolation, destitution, and moral decline. It serves as a potent expression to emphasize both the material and ethical bankruptcy experienced by an individual who has been pushed to the very fringes of society, often evoking pity, revulsion, or both.
