Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

to live hand to mouth

idiom

/tə lɪv hænd tu maʊθ/

Definition

To barely have enough money to meet basic needs, often spending all of one’s income on necessities.

Examples

After losing his job, he had to live hand to mouth until he found a new position.
The family had been living hand to mouth for months after the unexpected bills came in.

Meaning

This phrase describes a lifestyle where a person or family consumes all their income for immediate needs, leaving little or nothing for savings or future expenses.