Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

live from hand to mouth

idiom

/lɪv frʌm hænd tu maʊθ/

Definition

To have just enough money to live on and nothing more.

Examples

Many freelancers live from hand to mouth, struggling to make consistent income.
In an economic downturn, countless families find themselves living from hand to mouth.
After losing his job, he had to live from hand to mouth until he found new employment.

Meaning

This phrase describes a situation where a person is barely making ends meet, relying on immediate income to cover basic needs without any financial savings.