eke out

verb

1. to make (a supply) last, esp by frugal use

   they eked out what little food was left

2. to support (existence) with difficulty and effort

3. to add to (something insufficient), esp with effort

   to eke out an income with evening work

Idioms and Phrases

Supplement, make last, as in The survivors eked out their food and water until they were rescued . [Late 1500s]

Get with great difficulty or effort, as in The soil was terrible but they managed to eke out a living by rotating crops . [Early 1800s]

Related Words

• get by