Make ends meet
/meɪk ɛndz miːt/neutralUK · US · AU · IE · CA
What does “Make ends meet” mean?
Make ends meet means to earn just enough money to pay for basic living expenses.
This idiom means you earn just enough to cover necessary costs like food and housing. You are not saving extra money, but you can pay your bills.
It carries a feeling of financial stress and hard work. People often use it in the negative to say they are struggling to survive.
When do people say it?
People say this when talking about living on a tight budget or dealing with money worries.
“With rising rent prices, it is hard for many families to make ends meet.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US and AU and IE and CA.
Where does it come from?
It likely comes from accounting, where income and expenses must match at the end of the year. Some believe it came from tailoring or sailing, but the exact origin is disputed.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Make ends meet” in other languages?
Last reviewed 2026-09-11