have no fixed abode

have no fixed abode is an idiom used by many writers. When idioms are used in the right place, they open the doors of effective communication and increase your descriptive power. In this way, you will be better understood. The meaning of the expression have no fixed abode is also remarkable in this respect.

Meaning of "have no fixed abode"

Meaning

The phrase 'have no fixed abode' refers to a person who has no permanent residence or home. This person is a wanderer who does not have a permanent place to stay, and is constantly moving from one place to another. In certain contexts, this phrase can also refer to people who are homeless and have no residence whatsoever.

Etymology

The phrase 'have no fixed abode', originates from a French phrase, “N’avoir pas de place assignée.” It literally translates to 'having no assigned place', and references a person who has no permanent place to stay. The phrase itself first appeared in the English language in the late 16th century, as a legal term. It was used to describe people who did not have a settled residence. By the turn of the 18th century, the phrase was being used in a more general sense to describe someone who was constantly wandering from place to place.

Usage

The phrase 'have no fixed abode' is generally used in two contexts. In the first, it is used to describe someone who is constantly moving and has no permanent place to stay. This person is frequently referred to as a wanderer or a vagabond. Oftentimes, these people are assumed to be homeless and live off of the charity of others. In the second context, the phrase is used to refer to an individual who is homeless and has no residence whatsoever. This individual is said to 'have no fixed abode' as they rarely stay in one place for any significant amount of time.

Example Sentences

• The tramp has no fixed abode, and is constantly moving from town to town in search of a place to stay.
• The homeless man was arrested for vagrancy as he had no fixed abode.
• The family of wanderers had no fixed abode, instead travelling from place to place.

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.