Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - low life

~ n 1 the life and behaviour of people from a low social class, especially those who are involved in criminal activities  (a novel about low life in Chicago in the 1930s) 2 also lowlife AmE informal someone who is involved in crime or who is bad  (Pete turned out to be a real lowlife.) - low-life adj AmE informal  (some low-life hooker Joe's taken up with)