make ends meet

Meaning

To have enough money to cover expenses; to get by financially; to get through the pay period (sufficient to meet the next payday).

Synonyms

get by

eke out a living

live off

make a living

cope

manage

struggle

subsist

make do

get along

Translations

joindre les deux bouts

über die Runden kommen

φυτοζωώ

τα φέρνω βόλτα

μόλις τα βγάζω πέρα

vivoter

sbarcare il lunario

far quadrare i conti

rondkomen

een kwijnend bestaan leiden

vivotejar

sich über Wasser halten

ir tirando

sich durchbringen

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps originally referred to the ends of rope meeting, signifying continuity and therefore security and stability. Perhaps shifting later to refer to the attempt at making money last from one pay period to the next (i.e. the ends), thereby leaving no gap or break in the availability of funds. Compare French joindre les deux bouts (literally “join the two ends”) with the same meaning. The form make both ends meet is attested from the 17th century, and was the more common form until the early-to-mid 20th century.