make ends meet
Meaning
To manage financially on limited income; to have just enough money to cover basic expenses.
Origin
From the idea of bringing two ends of something together so they meet; by the 18th century it was used figuratively for balancing income and expenses.
Notes
Implies barely getting by financially and often suggests stress or struggle. Used in everyday talk about budgets, wages, or living costs; generally neutral but can be sympathetic.
Examples
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After rent and utilities, I barely make ends meet each month.
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When he lost his second job, the family struggled to make ends meet.
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She’s been taking extra shifts on weekends to make ends meet.
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We had to cut back on eating out to make ends meet during the recession.
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Even with a full-time salary, it’s hard to make ends meet in this city.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as “make ends meet” with “ends” plural. Verb inflects (makes/made/making ends meet). Often with “can/can’t,” “struggle to,” or “manage to.”
Synonyms
- get by
- make do
- scrape by
- keep your head above water
- manage on a tight budget
Antonyms
- live within your means comfortably
- live in luxury
- have money to spare