8 Common Idioms For Poor Family

English Idioms for Poor Family, expressions, and proverbs are an important part of the English language, both spoken and written English are saturated with them.

For English Learners idioms for Poor Family are confusing to get one’s head around, the reason being Idioms don’t make common sense.

To learn the meanings and usage of idioms, students studying English must study and familiarize themselves with their everyday usage.

The team at Lillypad understands the pain and difficulties English Learners face in comprehending the true meaning and appropriate usage. This idioms list of Poor Family makes learning straightforward, with common Poor Family idioms, definitions, and example sentences that make the meaning clear.

Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your English sound more native, so it’s a good idea to master some of these expressions with daily practice, so bookmark this page or share it with your friends; now let us learn about idioms for Poor Family together.

Idioms for Poor Family with Meanings, Definitions & Example Sentences

1. Keep Up With The Joneses

Definition and Meaning: Keep Up With The Joneses

The expression “keep up with the Joneses” is often used to describe the act of trying to maintain the same level of success or wealth as those around you.

Keep Up With The Joneses Example Sentences:

• My neighbor just bought a new car, so I guess I have to keep up with the Joneses and buy one too.
• My sister is always trying to keep up with the Joneses by buying the latest designer clothes.
• My parents are always trying to keep up with the Joneses by going on expensive vacations.
• My friends are always trying to keep up with the Joneses by going out to fancy restaurants.
• My co-workers are always trying to keep up with the Joneses by buying the newest gadgets.

2. Scraping By

Definition and Meaning: Scraping By

The expression “scraping by” means to barely get by or to barely survive.

Scraping By Example Sentences:

• She was scraping by on her minimum wage job, barely making enough to pay her rent.
• He was scraping by on his disability payments, struggling to make ends meet.
• The family was scraping by on their meager savings, hoping to make it through the winter.
• The small business was scraping by, barely able to keep its doors open.
• She was scraping by on her freelance income, barely able to afford her basic needs.

3. Hand To Mouth

Definition and Meaning: Hand To Mouth

The expression “hand to mouth” is used to describe a situation in which someone is barely able to support themselves or their family.

Hand To Mouth Example Sentences:

• She was living hand to mouth, barely able to make ends meet.
• He was so poor that he had to exist from hand to mouth.
• The family had to struggle to get by, living hand to mouth.
• She was barely able to survive, living hand to mouth.
• He was barely able to make it, living hand to mouth.

4. Barely Making Ends Meet

Definition and Meaning: Barely Making Ends Meet

The expression “barely making ends meet” means that someone is barely able to pay their bills and have enough money for basic necessities.

Barely Making Ends Meet Example Sentences:

• After losing his job, John was barely making ends meet by working odd jobs.
• With the rising cost of living, many families are barely making ends meet.
• After the divorce, she was barely making ends meet on her own.
• With his low salary, he was barely making ends meet each month.
• The single mother was barely making ends meet on her minimum-wage job.

5. We’re On A Shoestring Budget

Definition and Meaning: We’re On A Shoestring Budget

The expression “We’re on a shoestring budget” means that we have very little money to spend.

We’re On A Shoestring Budget Example Sentences:

• We can’t afford to hire a professional photographer for the event, so we’re on a shoestring budget and will have to make do with a volunteer.
• We don’t have the funds to buy new furniture for the office, so we’re on a shoestring budget and will have to make do with what we have.
• We can’t afford to buy the latest software for the company, so we’re on a shoestring budget and will have to make do with the free version.
• We don’t have the money to hire a caterer for the party, so we’re on a shoestring budget and will have to make do with a potluck.
• We can’t afford to rent a venue for the conference, so we’re on a shoestring budget and will have to make do with a local church hall.

6. To Make Ends Meet

Definition and Meaning: To Make Ends Meet

The expression “to make ends meet” means to have enough money to pay for all of one’s expenses.

To Make Ends Meet Example Sentences:

• After losing his job, he had to take on a second job just to make ends meet.
• She had to take out a loan to make ends meet while she looked for a new job.
• He had to sell his car to make ends meet while he was in college.
• She had to take on extra shifts at work to make ends meet.
• He had to cut back on his expenses to make ends meet.

7. Getting By

Definition and Meaning: Getting By

The expression “getting by” means to manage to survive or to continue functioning despite difficult circumstances.

Getting By Example Sentences:

• I’m just getting by on my minimum-wage job.
• We’re getting by on a tight budget this month.
• She’s been getting by on her own since her divorce.
• He’s been getting by with the help of his family.
• We’re getting by with a little help from our friends.

8. We’re Poor As Church Mice” Is An Idiom That Means We Are Very Poor

Definition and Meaning: We’re Poor As Church Mice” Is An Idiom That Means We Are Very Poor

The phrase “as poor as a church mouse” is used to describe someone who is very poor.

We’re Poor As Church Mice” Is An Idiom That Means We Are Very Poor Example Sentences:

• We can’t afford to go on vacation this year, we’re poor as church mice.
• We can’t afford to buy new furniture, we’re poor as church mice.
• We can’t afford to go out to eat, we’re poor as church mice.

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