survive off

USAGE SUMMARY

"survive off" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to live and sustain oneself by obtaining something, usually food or resources, from a particular source. Example: The family was able to survive off the land by farming and hunting. In this sentence, "survive off" is used to describe how the family was able to sustain themselves by obtaining food from their surrounding environment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

She can deck a man and survive off the land.

The New Yorker

Jazz continues to survive off casinos by doing "one hustle or another", as he put it.

The Guardian

"We can't survive off this," said Bile Qabowsade, a Puntland official.

The New York Times

"It's about understanding the universe and how, one day, humans can survive off this planet," she says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Unable to compete with ethnic Han Chinese migrant workers or educated Tibetans who speak Mandarin, many former herders survive off government subsidies and the odd construction job.

The New York Times

Kawkab Darweesh, who has been displaced for months, said she and her family had been uprooted, forced to survive off the hospitality of friends.

The New York Times

Just as it would be extremely hard to survive off the electrical grid, it's become nearly impossible to live and work without e-mail or cellphones.

The New York Times

"If something happened, I could grab this one bag and we could run, and the two of us could survive off this one backpack for a few days.

The New York Times

"The hire and fire culture of recent years has allowed unscrupulous employers to hold down pay and make staff survive off scraps of work".

The Guardian - Business

Eventually they were able to give up their day jobs, but they were never able to survive off the books alone.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Life history is, however, critical here: if a pathogen is less constrained (e.g. no trade-off or the pathogen can survive off-host as a saprophyte) then presumably generality (in host range) will be more likely to emerge.

Evolutionary Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "survive off", be specific about the source from which sustenance or resources are being obtained. For example, "They survive off government subsidies" is clearer than simply "They survive off something".

Common error

Avoid using "survive off" without clearly indicating what the subject is surviving off of. Saying "The company can survive off it" is less effective than specifying, "The company can "survive off" its patents".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "survive off" functions as a verb phrase indicating the means by which a subject sustains life or existence. It specifies the source or method used to obtain essential resources. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts, such as "surviving off" land, casinos, or government subsidies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

News & Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "survive off" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the means by which someone or something sustains life. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from diverse sources. It's most frequently found in news and media, but also appears in scientific and business contexts. While alternatives like "subsist on" and "live on" exist, "survive off" is a versatile and widely understood way to express reliance on a specific source for sustenance. Remember to specify what one is surviving off of to avoid vagueness. The phrase indicates just managing to live, often with limited resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subsist on

Focuses on the means of sustenance, similar to "survive off".

live on

A more general term for deriving sustenance or income from a source.

depend on for survival

Highlights reliance on something for continued existence.

rely on for sustenance

Emphasizes the provision of basic needs.

be sustained by

Implies that something is providing long-term support.

eke out a living from

Suggests a difficult or meager existence.

get by on

Indicates managing to survive with limited resources.

feed oneself with

Directly relates to the act of providing food for survival.

maintain oneself through

Focuses on the method of self-preservation.

draw sustenance from

Emphasizes the extraction of essential resources.

FAQs

How can I use "survive off" in a sentence?

You can use "survive off" to describe how someone or something obtains what they need to live. For instance, "The animals "survive off" the plants in the area".

What can I say instead of "survive off"?

You can use alternatives like "subsist on", "live on", or "depend on for survival" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "survive off of"?

While "survive off" is more common and concise, "survive off of" is also grammatically acceptable, though it can sound slightly more formal or emphatic. The meaning remains the same.

What's the difference between "survive off" and "thrive on"?

"Survive off" implies just managing to live, often with limited resources. "Thrive on", on the other hand, means to grow or develop well, suggesting a more positive and flourishing state.