hand-to-mouth

US /ˌhænd.təˈmaʊθ/
UK /ˌhænd.təˈmaʊθ/
"hand-to-mouth" picture
1.

having only just enough money to live on and nothing extra

:
•
Many families in the region live a hand-to-mouth existence.
•
After losing his job, he found himself living hand-to-mouth.
:
impoverisheddestitutepennilessindigentneedy
:
mouthlive (from) hand to mouthhandhandfulhands-onhand inat the hands of