making ends meet

USAGE SUMMARY

"making ends meet" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to have enough money to cover basic expenses. For example, "With prices on the rise, many people have a hard time making ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Making ends meet was tough.

The New York Times

Making ends meet was a close second.

The New York Times

"We're just making ends meet.

The New York Times

"I'm just making ends meet," he said.

The New York Times

People are having a hard time making ends meet.

The New York Times

He had a hard time making ends meet.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

Still, Moses sometimes had difficulty making ends meet.

The New York Times - Sports

But making ends meet became more difficult for Maclin King.

The New York Times - Sports

They had great difficulty making ends meet in Paris.

The Guardian

"We're not making ends meet," the priest said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. While broadly applicable, this phrase is particularly effective when discussing personal finance, economic hardship, or budget constraints.

Common error

Don't use "making ends meet" when describing situations where someone is comfortably managing their finances. The phrase suggests a level of difficulty or constraint, not just general financial management.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "making ends meet" is as a verbal phrase used to describe the action of managing one's finances sufficiently to cover essential expenses. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making ends meet" is a common idiomatic expression used to describe the act of managing one's finances to cover essential expenses, often implying a struggle. According to Ludwig, its use is grammatically correct. The phrase is neutral in register and appears frequently in news and media, as well as in formal and business contexts. Alternative phrases include "getting by" and "living within one's means". When using the phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects a situation where financial constraints are present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

living within one's means

Highlights the practice of spending only as much as one earns, focusing on responsible financial behavior.

covering expenses

Emphasizes the act of having enough money to pay for necessary costs, without necessarily implying difficulty.

tightening the belt

Suggests reducing spending and living more frugally in response to financial constraints.

balancing the budget

Focuses on the act of managing income and expenses to avoid deficits, implying a more formal or structured approach.

struggling financially

Emphasizes the difficulty and hardship involved in managing money, often implying debt or poverty.

getting by

Implies a minimal level of financial stability, suggesting surviving on limited resources.

economizing

Focuses on the act of reducing waste or unnecessary spending, typically to save money.

managing finances

A broader term that includes saving, investing, and planning, not just covering immediate needs.

subsisting

Implies surviving at a basic level, often with limited resources and potential hardship.

squeezing every penny

Highlights extreme frugality and careful management of even small amounts of money.

FAQs

How can I use "making ends meet" in a sentence?

You can use "making ends meet" to describe a situation where someone is finding it difficult to manage their expenses with their income. For example, "With rising inflation, many families are struggling to "make ends meet"".

What are some alternative phrases for "making ends meet"?

Some alternatives include "getting by", "living within one's means", or "covering expenses". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "making ends meet" a formal or informal expression?

"Making ends meet" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in news articles and everyday conversations than in highly academic texts.

What's the difference between "making ends meet" and "budgeting"?

"Making ends meet" implies a struggle to cover expenses, while "budgeting" refers to planning and managing finances, not necessarily in a difficult situation. You might budget to avoid struggling to "make ends meet".