How do you use "Keep the wolf from the door" in a sentence?

This job keeps the wolf from the door. It's not much, but it keeps the wolf from the door. We can just about keep the wolf from the door.

Keep the wolf from the door

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Neutral

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Meaning: To maintain a basic standard of living; to stave off poverty.

维持基本生活水平；勉强度日。

Mantener un nivel de vida básico; evitar la pobreza.

最低限の生活水準を維持すること。貧困を避けること。

최소한의 생활 수준을 유지하다. 가난을 면하다.

'Keeping the wolf from the door' means earning enough to survive—avoiding poverty. The wolf represents hunger and want trying to enter your home.

'keeping the wolf from the door（把狼挡在门外）'意味着挣够维持生存的钱——避免陷入贫困。狼象征着试图闯入你家门的饥饿和匮乏。

'Keeping the wolf from the door' (mantener al lobo lejos de la puerta) significa ganar lo suficiente para sobrevivir, evitando la pobreza. El lobo representa el hambre y la necesidad intentando entrar en tu hogar.

「keeping the wolf from the door（狼を戸口から遠ざける）」は生き延びるのに十分な収入を得ること——貧困を避けることです。狼は家に入ろうとする飢えと困窮を象徴しています。

'Keeping the wolf from the door'는 생존할 만큼 충분히 벌어 가난을 피한다는 뜻입니다. 늑대는 집 안으로 들어오려는 굶주림과 궁핍을 상징합니다.

Examples

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.

Pronunciation

/kiːp ðə wʊlf frɒm ðə dɔːr/

Usage Guide

Context: poverty, survival, income

Tone: modest, humble

✓ Do Say

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

Common Mistakes

About basic survival, not wealth

Origin & History

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.

Etymology: Wolf = hunger/poverty trying to enter

First recorded: Medieval period

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Fairy tales; Medieval Europe

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Keep the wolf from the door

Keep the wolf from the door

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

✓ Do Say

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Cultural Context

Variations

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