Make ends meet
Significado: To earn just enough money to cover basic expenses
Managing to balance income with essential expenses, often with difficulty. The 'ends' are income and expenditure that must 'meet' (match up).
Ejemplos
- It's hard to make ends meet on minimum wage. 靠最低工资很难维持生计Es difícil llegar a fin de mes con el salario mínimo最低賃金では生活がやっとだ최저임금으로는 생활하기가 빠듯하다.
- We're just about making ends meet. 我们勉强维持生活Apenas llegamos a fin de mesなんとかやりくりしている겨우겨우 살림을 꾸려가고 있다.
- Struggling to make ends meet after the redundancy. 被裁员后挣扎着维持生计Luchando por llegar a fin de mes después del despidoリストラ後、生活費のやりくりに苦労している해고 후 생활비를 맞추느라 허덕이고 있다.
Pronunciación
/meɪk endz miːt/
Guía de uso
Contexto: budgeting, poverty, finances
Tono: serious, sympathetic
✓ Correcto
- Make ends meet维持生计Llegar a fin de mesやりくりする겨우 먹고살다
- Struggling to make ends meet挣扎着维持生计Luchando por llegar a fin de mes生活するのに苦労している겨우 생계를 유지하다
✗ Incorrecto
- Common expression about financial struggle关于经济困难的常见表达Expresión común sobre dificultades económicas経済的な苦労についての一般的な表現흔하고 널리 이해되는 표현이에요
Errores comunes
- None—universally understood
Origen e historia
From bookkeeping where income and expenses must meet (balance). Also possibly from tailoring where fabric ends must meet. Dating from the 17th century.
Etimología: From balancing income and expenses
Primera vez registrado: 17th century
Contexto cultural
Era: 17th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Economic discussions; Cost of living debates
Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.
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