Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

hand-to-mouth

idiom

/ˈhænd tə maʊθ/

Definition

Living with only enough money to meet immediate needs, without any savings for the future.

Examples

Many families are living hand-to-mouth, unable to save for emergencies.
During the economic downturn, several businesses found themselves in a hand-to-mouth situation.

Meaning

The term describes a situation where a person or family struggles to afford basic necessities, typically relying on their current income to meet expenses as they arise.