on one's beam ends

By analogy with a capsizing ship; see usage note at beam-ends.

on one's beam ends

1. (UK, dated) In a parlous or destitute state.

• “be on your beam ends”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “on one's beam ends”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.