live hand to mouth
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Increasingly, people live hand to mouth, buying a tomato here, a few onions there as they manage to scrape together enough bolivars for just the basics.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025
Even with the entire family working, there’s often not enough money for food and they live hand to mouth on credit from shopkeepers.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
And for daily labourers who live hand to mouth, it is just as bad.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2023
“Nobody in my restaurant can work this week. They live hand to mouth, and I am responsible for them,” she said.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 23, 2021
Bathrooms are overcrowded, living conditions are austere, and inhabitants live hand to mouth – but it is a functioning shelter.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 19, 2018
