manage to live

USAGE SUMMARY

'manage to live' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about managing a difficult situation or situation where the outcome isn't certain. Example sentence: Despite the economic uncertainty, they managed to live comfortably.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's funny how teams so often manage to live up to their identities.

The New York Times

The question is whether we can manage to live with these shortcomings.

The New York Times

How am I going to manage to live here all alone?

The New Yorker

In fairness to Pakistan and Congo, wealthy people in such countries manage to live surprisingly comfortably.

The New York Times

(6) They're in the public eye but they manage to live straight.

The Guardian - Music

Philip Gourevitch on how a country of murderers and survivors manage to live together.

The New Yorker

How does he manage to live so high on the hog?

The Guardian

Most of us, she finishes, manage to live by wadding ourselves with stupidity.

The New Yorker

Competing allegiances -- urban renewal versus civic pride, bohemian protest versus entrepreneurial spirit -- manage to live peacefully on a small campus.

The New York Times

Thomas and Pauline Nakios, who own the women's clothing line Lilla P, do manage to live inside the district.

The New York Times

For more than a decade you have been looking into why some people manage to live so long.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "manage to live" when you want to express how someone copes or survives under challenging circumstances, highlighting their ability to overcome difficulties.

Common error

Avoid using "manage to live" when describing ordinary living situations. It's more appropriate when emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity, not for everyday routines.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "manage to live" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to describe the ability or strategy of surviving or coping in specific circumstances. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "manage to live" is a common and grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe the ability to survive or cope, often under challenging conditions. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is versatile and suitable for a range of contexts, from news reporting to academic discourse. Its usage implies a degree of active coping or adaptation, going beyond mere survival. While the phrase can be overused in simple situations, it's most effective when emphasizing resilience. Alternatives include "succeed in surviving" and "cope with existence", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exist despite adversity

Focuses on continuing to live even when facing hardship.

succeed in surviving

Focuses on the successful aspect of surviving, implying overcoming challenges.

find a way to survive

Highlights the process of discovering methods for survival.

cope with existence

Emphasizes the act of dealing with the challenges of living.

contrive to subsist

Indicates using ingenuity or resourcefulness to stay alive.

get by in life

Suggests a basic level of survival, often with limited resources.

pull through

Implies surviving a difficult or dangerous situation.

eke out an existence

Implies a struggle to maintain life, often in poverty.

make ends meet

Focuses on managing finances to survive.

scrape by

Suggests surviving with minimal resources and effort.

FAQs

How can I use "manage to live" in a sentence?

You can use "manage to live" to describe how someone survives or copes, especially in difficult situations. For instance, "Despite the economic hardship, they "manage to live" comfortably."

What are some alternatives to "manage to live"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "succeed in surviving", "cope with existence", or "get by in life".

Is it correct to say "managed to live" instead of "manage to live"?

Yes, "managed to live" is the past tense form of "manage to live". Use "managed to live" when referring to a past situation where someone successfully survived or coped. For example, "They "managed to live" through the recession."

What's the difference between "manage to live" and "survive"?

"Survive" generally refers to the basic act of staying alive, whereas "manage to live" implies a degree of coping or adapting to circumstances while staying alive. "Manage to live" suggests a more active approach to existence than simply "surviving".