from hand to mouth

1. see hand to mouth.

2. With only the bare essentials, existing precariously. For example, After she lost her job she was living from hand to mouth. This expression alludes to eating immediately whatever is at hand. [c. 1500]

Example Sentences

"In China, at a kindergarten, the norovirus, which is usually transmitted from hand to mouth or from surfaces, got into the air and infected half of the class."

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Already living from hand to mouth, millions of garment workers across Asia fear for their jobs as a deadline to strike a trade deal with the US - or face punishing tariffs - looms closer.

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"We live from hand to mouth, others will end up stealing or getting into drugs," said Mandizha, who ekes out a living selling his mother's homemade kitchenware.

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"The exodus of nurses is not going to stop because of our poor conditions of service. Our salary is nothing to write home about and in two weeks you spend it. It's from hand to mouth."

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Converging pressures of economic recession, growing youth populations in need of jobs and the climate crisis leave poor people living from hand to mouth, said Alex de Waal, executive director for the U.S.-based World Peace Foundation.

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