不名一錢這則成語是比喻極度貧窮。

This idiom is a metaphor of be penniless in extreme poverty.

漢文帝當政的時候，有個名叫鄧通的善于劃船，被選到宮里當御船的水手。一天夜里，文帝做了一個夢，夢中他想升天，卻怎么也上不去。就在這時候，有個頭戴黃帽的人在背后推他，終于使他上了天。他回過頭來看推他的人，發現那人的衣帶在背后打了個結。

The Han Emperor's time, a man named Deng Tong is good at boating, was elected to the royal palace as a seaman ship. One night, he had a dream, a dream he want to go to heaven, but how also not to go. At this time, there was a yellow cap pushed him behind him, he was finally on the day. He turned back to push him, found the man wrapped behind a knot.

第二天，文帝來到建在宮西蒼池中的漸臺，見到有個御船水手頭戴黃帽，衣帶在背后打了個結，正是他夢中遇見的人。召來一詢問，那人名叫鄧通。文帝想，他既然能把自己推上天，必定是個奇才，便非常寵愛他。鄧通也老實謹慎，不隨便和外人交往。文帝多次賞賜他的錢財，總數上億之多，還授予他上大夫的官職。

The next day, the emperor came to gradually station in the pool house Xicang, see a royal ship sailor's head wearing a yellow hat, unofficially engaged in behind a knot, it is to meet him in a dream. Once asked, the man named Deng Tong. He thought to himself, since he can push God, must be a genius, he was extremely fond of him. Deng Tong is also honest, not casual and outsiders. Emperor repeatedly reward his money, the total number of million, also awarded him the doctor's office.

其實，鄧通并沒有什么才能。他自己處事謹慎，也不能推薦賢士，只是諂媚文帝而已。有一次，文帝命一個善于算命的人去給鄧通相面，那人相面反對文帝說：“鄧通這個人將來要貧餓而死。”

In fact, Deng Tong has no talent. He is also cautious, not just recommend the Magi, flattering emperor. Once, the emperor life a good fortune telling people to Deng Tong physiognomy, the physiognomy of the people against the emperor that "Deng Tong this man will die in poverty."

漢文帝憂慮地說：“能讓鄧通富起來的只有我，我怎么會叫他受窮呢?”

The Han Emperor said anxiously: "I can only let Deng Tongfu up, how would I want to call him?"

于是，文帝下令把蜀郡嚴道的一座銅山賜給鄧通，允許他自己鑄錢。從此鄧通發了大財，他鑄造的銅錢布滿天下，人人都知道有“鄧氏錢”。

Then, the emperor ordered a Copper Mt. Yan Tao Shu county gave to Deng Tong, allowing himself to cast money. Since Deng Tong made a fortune, he cast coins full of the world, everyone knows that "Deng's money".

有一天，文帝背上生了一個瘡，膿血流個不停。鄧通覺得孝順皇帝的機會到了，便天天進宮去，用嘴巴替文帝吮吸膿血。不過，文帝心中還是不高興。一天他問鄧通：“天下誰最愛我?”

One day, the emperor had a sore back, pus and blood flow away. Deng Tong felt the emperor's opportunity to filial piety, every day to enter the palace, the emperor with the mouth for sucking pus. However, the emperor is still not happy. One day he asked Deng Tong, "who loves me the most?"

鄧通恭順地回答：“應該說沒有誰比太子更愛陛下的了。”

Deng Tonggong always replied: "we should say no more than the prince who loves his majesty."

一次太子劉啟來看望文帝病情，文帝要他吮膿血。太子見瘡口膿血模糊，腥臭難聞，禁不住一陣惡心，但又不敢違抗，只得硬著頭皮吮吸，可是臉色很難看。后來他聽說，鄧通常為文帝吮吸膿血，感到漸愧，也因此而忌恨鄧通。

A prince Liu Qilai visited the emperor emperor to his illness, pus and blood sucking. Prince see fuzzy sore pus and blood, foul stench, couldn't help a sick, but he dared not disobey, had to bite the scalp to suck, but his face is very ugly. Later he heard, Deng Tongchang for the emperor to suck pus and blood, feel shamed gradually, and thus also hate Deng tong.

文帝死后，劉啟即位，史稱漢景帝。景帝免去鄧通的官職，讓他回家閑居。不久，有人告發鄧通偷盜境外的鑄錢。景帝派人調查，結果確有此事，便把鄧通家的錢財全部沒收，鄧通頓時變成了窮光蛋，還欠下好幾億錢的債。還是景帝的姐姐長公主記住文帝不讓他餓死的遺言，賜給他一些錢財。但是，官吏馬上把這些錢財用來抵債，連一根簪子都不讓他留下。長公主知道后，就讓手下人借給他一些衣食和錢。這樣，鄧通不能占有一個錢，只能寄食在別人家里直到死去。

After the death of the emperor, Liu Qi ascended the throne, known as the Han emperor. The emperor was Deng Tong Office, let him go home at. Soon, it was reported that the theft of foreign money outside the cast. Jingdi sent survey. Results there is indeed a matter, then the Deng family money confiscated. Deng Tong suddenly turned into a pauper, still owe a debt of hundreds of millions of money. The emperor's sister princess still remember the emperor would not let him starve to death last words, to give him some money. However, officials immediately put these money to pay the debts, even a hairpin would not let him leave. The princess know, let his men to lend him some money and food and clothing. In this way, Deng Tong holds a money not only, died in his home until inquilinous.