Make Ends Meet – Meaning & Usage Examples

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Let’s explore the saying ‘make ends meet’ together, understanding its meaning, origins, and real-life examples.

Meaning of the Idiom

The idiom ‘make ends meet’ refers to the ability to manage one’s finances to cover expenses and necessities with the income or resources available. When someone is able to make ends meet, it means they can afford the cost of living without facing financial hardship or struggling to pay bills. This expression is commonly used to describe individuals or families who are able to balance their income and expenses effectively.

Origin of the Idiom

The origin of the phrase ‘make ends meet’ is uncertain, but it likely originated from the concept of tying together the loose ends of a financial budget to ensure that income is sufficient to cover expenses. The idiom may have evolved from the practice of household budgeting, where individuals or families carefully managed their finances to ensure that all essential needs were met. Over time, the expression became a common way to describe the act of maintaining financial stability.

10 Idiom Examples in Everyday Situations

1. Despite working multiple jobs, Sarah still struggles to make ends meet each month due to high living expenses.

2. Tom had to cut back on non-essential spending to make ends meet after his hours were reduced at work.

3. Mary took on freelance work to make ends meet while she pursued her passion for art.

4. John and his wife both work full-time jobs to make ends meet and support their family.

5. Emily started budgeting more carefully to make ends meet after realizing she was spending beyond her means.

6. Mike decided to sell some of his belongings to make ends meet during a period of financial difficulty.

7. Lisa took on a second job to make ends meet and save money for her future goals.

8. Jack and his roommates share living expenses to make ends meet while they are in college.

9. Jane started meal planning to make ends meet and reduce her grocery expenses.

10. Peter decided to downsize to a smaller apartment to make ends meet and save money on rent.

5 Quotes Featuring the Idiom

1. “In today’s economy, many people struggle to make ends meet despite working full-time jobs.” – Unknown

2. “Making ends meet requires careful budgeting and sometimes making sacrifices to cover essential expenses.” – Unknown

3. “For some individuals, making ends meet means finding creative solutions to financial challenges.” – Unknown

4. “The ability to make ends meet often depends on factors such as income level, living expenses, and financial responsibilities.” – Unknown

5. “Despite the challenges, many people find ways to make ends meet and achieve financial stability.” – Unknown

Idioms Starting From Letter M

Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter M. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘M’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the M-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter M.