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]

Example Sentences

Economists largely anticipate Canada to eke out modest growth through the remainder of the year.

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As Leeds grew in confidence, the visitors appeared drained and only came back into the contest too late to eke out a point.

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In addition, to eke out votes from lawmakers representing smaller cities, SB 79 zones shrank to a quarter mile in cities with less than 35,000 residents, compared with a half mile everywhere else.

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Europe went on to eke out a 15-13 win, marking the first time since Europe’s win in 2012 that either side had managed to win this biennial showdown on foreign soil.

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Using armies of lawyers and bankers, they eke out more profit by using offshore reinsurance transactions to free up capital.

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Related Words

• get by