to make ends meet
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In North American English, this idiom typically means:
DEFINITION
to earn enough money to survive without going into debt
EXAMPLES
“With all the bills that they have to pay–electricity, water, heating, air conditioning, car insurance, the alarm company, cell phones, Internet–they barely have enough to make ends meet. In order to have children they are going to have to each get a second job.”
“My friend doesn’t ever worry about making ends meet. He’s the CEO of an international company who makes a $250,000 salary.”
“Many teachers in Canada get a summer job to help make ends meet. Some work as accountants, others as retail associates.”
What do you do to make ends meet? Let me know in the comments below by practicing using this idiom.