hand-to-mouth

American  

[hand-tuh-mouth] / ˈhænd təˈmaʊθ /

adjective

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

   a hand-to-mouth existence.

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hand-to-mouth British  

adjective

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

   a hand-to-mouth existence

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Etymology

Origin of hand-to-mouth

First recorded in 1500–10

Example Sentences

“It’s just literally hand-to-mouth, what we can get out of the fab and what we can get to customers is how we’re managing it,” said Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner.

From The Wall Street Journal

The challenges of hand-to-mouth were not at all theoretical.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From MarketWatch

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC