Make ends meet

Meaning

The idiom "make ends meet" means to earn enough money or have enough resources to cover one's expenses, and often implies just barely managing to do so. It can also mean doing whatever is necessary or acceptable to make ends meet, even if it is not ideal or desirable.

Usage

• The family struggled to make ends meet with their low-paying jobs.
• She had to work long hours to make ends meet and pay for her expensive education.
• The company was having trouble making ends meet and had to lay off several employees.
• They made ends meet by cutting back on expenses, but it was a tight budget.
• With the cost of living increasing, many people are struggling to make ends meet.

Roots and History

The phrase "make ends meet" has been used since at least the 16th century in English literature. The earliest known use of the idiom is attributed to William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night," where he wrote, "I am a man of little brain, but I have great legs; I will carry it." This line is often interpreted as meaning that one can make ends meet by working hard and being efficient. Over time, the phrase has taken on a more negative connotation, implying that people are just barely making enough to get by. The idiom has also been used to describe situations where people have to resort to unethical or illegal means to make ends meet.

Synonyms in English

• Scrape by
• Barely survive
• Stretch it
• Struggle to get by
• Make do with less

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "vivre de jour en jour" (live day by day)
• Spanish: "sobrevivir" (survive)
• Italian: "vivere dalla giornata in giornata" (live from day to day)
• German: "die Woche überleben" (survive the week)
• Dutch: "de weg uitgaan" (go bankrupt)

Similar Idioms

• a cinch

• no picnic

• keep on top