Very little in cupboard as hard-up (4)
I believe the answer is:
dash
'very little' is the definition.
'in cupboard as hard-up' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'DASH' can be found hidden inside 'cupboard as hard up'.
(Other definitions for dash that I've seen before include "display of instruments" , "quite mild oath" , "Hyphen - sprint" , "Hyphen; small quantity" , "scotch" .)