There are several synonyms for the phrase "live upon nothing". It refers to a state where a person has no means to support oneself and is usually associated with poverty or destitution. Some synonyms for this phrase include "living hand to mouth", "living from hand to mouth", "barely surviving", "subsisting", "existing in poverty", "living in penury", "living in indigence", and "living in want". These phrases all convey the same idea of struggling to live without any regular source of income or financial stability. Such conditions can be difficult to endure and can create great stress and anxiety for those who experience them.