Meaning & Origin
“Make ends meet” means to manage your money so income covers essential costs — bills, food, rent — sometimes with difficulty. The phrase has been recorded in English since the 17th century, likely from tailoring or accounting metaphors about ends matching.
Pronunciation Guide
- make — rhymes with “cake.”
- ends — clear “dz” sound.
- meet — long “ee,” like “meet.”
- Natural rhythm: MAKE ENDS MEET.
Usage & Sentence Examples
Use it when talking about covering basic expenses, often on a tight budget.
- With prices rising, it’s getting harder to make ends meet.
- He tutors on weekends to make ends meet while in school.
- We cut subscriptions to help make ends meet after the move.
- On one income, they budget carefully to make ends meet.
- The grant helps small museums make ends meet.
- She picked up shifts during the holidays to make ends meet.
Synonyms
get by · stay afloat · cover the bills · make do · break even · keep the lights on (informal)
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