Looking up...
To have just enough money to pay for one's basic needs.
Many families are barely making ends meet these days.
Many families are surviving on very little money.
She works two jobs to make ends meet.
She works multiple jobs to cover her essential expenses.
Commonly used in contexts of financial struggle or tight budgets.
This idiom is almost always used in negative or challenging financial contexts. If someone says they're 'making ends meet,' it usually implies they're doing so with difficulty.
Never interpret this phrase as physically connecting ends of objects. It exclusively refers to financial management.
First recorded in the early 18th century, this idiom likely originates from the literal image of connecting or closing the ends of a rope or string to prevent fraying. Over time, it evolved to symbolize managing limited resources to avoid financial shortfall.
Used to describe financial situations where income is barely sufficient for necessities. Often implies a struggle or tight budget.