hand-to-mouth

[hand-tuh-mouth]

adjective

1. offering or providing the barest livelihood, sustenance, or support; meager; precarious.

   a hand-to-mouth existence.

hand-to-mouth

adjective

1. with barely enough money or food to satisfy immediate needs

   a hand-to-mouth existence

Word History and Origins

Origin of hand-to-mouth¹

First recorded in 1500–10

Example Sentences

I have always lived hand-to-mouth, and live in a very small mountain town.

Read more on MarketWatch

"People here are poor, they live hand-to-mouth, but they are known to be very kind and helpful. Now we are all facing the consequences of this senseless violence," he adds.

Read more on BBC

She noted that “younger kids are at higher risk because they have more hand-to-mouth behavior.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bombaa says they endure a “hand-to-mouth economy”, never sure where their next meal will come from.

Read more on BBC

"Obviously one of the issues of a hand-to-mouth scheme... it's very difficult for councils to take long-term decisions about running the schemes," he says.

Read more on BBC