barely make ends meet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'barely make ends meet' is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a person or family is struggling financially and is having difficulty meeting their financial obligations. For example, you might say, "Many families in the area are struggling to barely make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Why, they can barely make ends meet.

The New York Times

"You can barely make ends meet now," she said.

The New York Times

Many can barely make ends meet as it is," she said.

The Guardian

The couple could barely make ends meet, despite his working 60 hours a week and teaching some night classes.

The New York Times - Health

But the value of Ecuadorean wages fell by half, devastating families who could barely make ends meet.

The New York Times

"How can you be optimistic when you know the best you can hope to do is just barely make ends meet?" Mr. Wilkinson asked.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

"We were barely making ends meet," he added.

The New York Times

We were barely making ends meet, living in crappy apartments".

The Guardian - Books

She makes about €1,100 a month, or $1,400, and said she barely makes ends meet.

The New York Times

Scott was doing better, though he was barely making ends meet.

The Washington Post

Other clients range from Hispanic day laborers to people barely making ends meet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely make ends meet", ensure the context clearly indicates financial strain. Provide specific examples or details to illustrate the extent of the struggle. For example, "Despite working two jobs, they can "barely make ends meet" due to rising healthcare costs".

Common error

Avoid using "barely make ends meet" when describing temporary or minor financial inconveniences. This phrase implies a significant and ongoing struggle to cover basic needs, not just a temporary setback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely make ends meet" functions as a predicate in a sentence, typically describing the financial condition of an individual or group. It indicates a state of near-poverty where income is only just sufficient to cover expenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely make ends meet" is a common expression used to describe a situation where someone is struggling to cover their basic expenses with limited income. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and grammatically correct phrase. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, suggesting its broad applicability. When writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates the financial strain and avoid using it for minor inconveniences. Alternative phrases include "struggle to get by" and "live hand to mouth". These are helpful substitutes to enrich your language or provide a nuanced meaning. The phrase carries a neutral register and conveys financial difficulty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

living paycheck to paycheck

Highlights the lack of savings and immediate dependence on the next payment.

struggle to get by

Focuses on the overall struggle rather than specifically balancing income and expenses.

live hand to mouth

Emphasizes the precariousness and lack of savings.

scrape by

Highlights the difficulty and effort involved in surviving financially.

eking out a living

Suggests a meager existence where earning enough to survive is a constant challenge.

finding it difficult to survive financially

Emphasizes the hardship of financial survival.

experiencing financial hardship

Focuses on the adversity caused by economic difficulties.

hardly able to pay the bills

Directly addresses the inability to manage financial obligations.

having trouble meeting financial obligations

Directly refers to the struggle with required payments.

on the breadline

Implies extreme poverty and reliance on minimal resources.

FAQs

What does it mean to "barely make ends meet"?

To "barely make ends meet" means to have just enough money to cover basic expenses like food, housing, and utilities, with little or nothing left over. It implies a struggle to avoid falling into debt or poverty.

How can I use the phrase "barely make ends meet" in a sentence?

You can use "barely make ends meet" to describe someone's financial situation, such as: "Many families in the rural areas are struggling to "barely make ends meet" due to the rising cost of living."

What are some alternatives to saying "barely make ends meet"?

You can use alternatives like "struggle to get by", "live hand to mouth", or "scrape by" to express a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "barely make ends meet"?

Yes, "barely make ends meet" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. It accurately conveys the idea of struggling to manage financially with very limited resources.