scrape by

US /skreɪp baɪ/
UK /skreɪp baɪ/
"scrape by" picture
1.

勉强维持生计, 勉强糊口

to manage to live with great difficulty, usually with very little money

:
After losing his job, he had to scrape by on his savings.
失业后,他不得不靠积蓄勉强维持生计
Many families are just scraping by in this economy.
在这种经济形势下,许多家庭都只是勉强维持生计
2.

勉强通过, 险胜

to just barely succeed in something, often with difficulty

:
He managed to scrape by the exam with a passing grade.
他勉强通过了考试,只得了及格分。
The team just scraped by with a narrow victory.
球队以微弱优势险胜