can barely live

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely live" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a state of extreme difficulty or struggle in life, often in a figurative sense. Example: "After losing my job and facing financial difficulties, I feel like I can barely live."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I can barely live without my phone and internet access now.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Who can barely live in the real world when the party dismisses her.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is a potent magnet for those millions of country people who can barely live off the measly landholdings available to them.

The Economist

A wind that doesn't even let bittersweet grow: those sad little plants can barely live, holding on for all they're worth to the side of the cliffs in these hills, as if they were smeared onto the earth.

The Guardian - Books

"I can barely live on the salary I make," said Ronald Burke, who works in a nearby factory producing whirlpool baths for people richer than himself, "so I don't see how someone can live on $5.15 an hour".On screen, Mr Talent tried to explain why he opposes human cloning.

The Economist

Sinan says that there are days when she can barely live with the fact that she's free while others like Khoula are slaves. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"They don't call you mad if you make a living". A mix of therapist, fraud and saint, she comforts and consoles those whom others disregard — the old, the sick, the lonely, the uneducated and the dim, in whom the energy of life flickers so low they can barely be counted among the living.

The Guardian - Books

Few of us could have foreseen 20 years ago the technology that is today so familiar, and so intertwined with our lives, that we can barely imagine living without it.

Princeton University

I often ended up paying about $200 a month with insurance (which, considering I can barely afford living in New York as is, was completely unsustainable).

Vice

Some can barely stand.

Los Angeles Times

In Wild, Strayed/Witherspoon can barely lift her pack, lives on raw, dehydrated food, stinks, fashions shoes out of masking tape and faces down a rattlesnake.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can barely live" to describe situations where basic survival is challenging due to financial constraints, oppressive environments, or severe health issues. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is making life so difficult.

Common error

Avoid using "can barely live" lightly. This phrase suggests a severe struggle for survival, not just general discomfort or inconvenience. Reserve it for situations of genuine hardship to maintain its impact and avoid exaggeration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely live" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a state of extreme difficulty in maintaining life or a reasonable standard of living. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples demonstrate it's used to portray hardship due to various factors.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely live" is used to describe a situation where survival is a struggle. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and acceptable in written English. The phrase, while uncommon, accurately conveys significant hardship. The analysis shows its primary function is descriptive, its purpose is to express difficulty, and its register is typically neutral, commonly appearing in news and media. Consider alternatives like "can hardly survive" or "struggle to subsist" to convey similar meanings. Avoid overuse, and reserve this phrase for situations of genuine hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can hardly survive

Emphasizes the struggle to stay alive, focusing on survival rather than quality of life.

struggle to subsist

Highlights the effort required to maintain a basic level of existence.

barely manage to exist

Stresses the minimal level of existence achieved.

live on the breadline

Implies living in extreme poverty, near the point of starvation.

scrape by

Focuses on managing to survive with very limited resources.

eke out a living

Describes the act of obtaining a livelihood with great difficulty.

have a hard time surviving

Highlights the difficulty in surviving.

live hand to mouth

Implies immediate dependence on each day's earnings for survival.

barely make ends meet

Focuses on the challenge of balancing income and expenses.

struggle to make a living

Emphasizes the difficulty in earning enough money to support oneself.

FAQs

How can I use "can barely live" in a sentence?

You can use "can barely live" to describe situations where someone is struggling to survive due to financial hardship, health issues, or oppressive conditions. For example, "After the economic crisis, many families "can barely live" on their reduced incomes."

What can I say instead of "can barely live"?

You can use alternatives like "can hardly survive", "struggle to subsist", or "barely manage to exist" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "can't barely live"?

No, "can't barely live" is incorrect. The word "barely" already implies a negative condition, so using "can't" creates a double negative. The correct phrasing is ""can barely live"".

What's the difference between "can barely live" and "can barely make ends meet"?

"Can barely live" refers to a general struggle for survival, while "can barely make ends meet" specifically focuses on the difficulty of balancing income and expenses. The former suggests a broader range of challenges beyond just financial ones.