Keep the wolf from the door
Significado: To maintain a basic standard of living; to stave off poverty.
'Keeping the wolf from the door' means earning enough to survive—avoiding poverty. The wolf represents hunger and want trying to enter your home.
Ejemplos
- This job keeps the wolf from the door. 这份工作让我勉强度日。Este trabajo me da para ir tirando.この仕事で何とか食べていける。이 일 덕분에 겨우 먹고살 수 있다.
- It's not much, but it keeps the wolf from the door. 钱不多,但能维持基本生活。No es mucho, pero da para vivir.多くはないが、何とか暮らしていける。많지는 않지만, 그럭저럭 먹고살 수는 있다.
- We can just about keep the wolf from the door. 我们勉强能维持生计。Apenas nos da para llegar a fin de mes.ギリギリ何とか生活できている。간신히 생활을 유지하고 있다.
Pronunciación
/kiːp ðə wʊlf frɒm ðə dɔːr/
Guía de uso
Contexto: poverty, survival, income
Tono: modest, humble
✓ Correcto
- Keep the wolf from the door勉强维持生计ir tirando何とか食いつなぐ간신히 먹고살다
- Keeps the wolf from the door勉强度日da para ir tirando何とか暮らしていける근근이 살아가다
Errores comunes
- About basic survival, not wealth
Origen e historia
Medieval Europe feared wolves, and the image of a hungry wolf at the door represented starvation and poverty. The phrase has endured even as actual wolves have not.
Etimología: Wolf = hunger/poverty trying to enter
Primera vez registrado: Medieval period
Contexto cultural
Era: Medieval onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Fairy tales; Medieval Europe
Regional notes: English-language universal.
Variaciones
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