Keep body and soul together

Definitions

• survive
  To maintain a basic level of physical and emotional well-being, especially in difficult circumstances

Examples of Keep body and soul together

• In order to stay healthy and financially stable, I prioritize my expenses and make sure I can afford to eat nutritious food and pay my bills. This allows me to keep both my body and soul together.

  The idiom "keep body and soul together" is used to express the idea of maintaining both physical and emotional well-being simultaneously. In this example, the person is making a conscious effort to address both their physical needs (eating well) and their financial obligations (paying bills) to ensure they can meet all their obligations and avoid any negative impact on their overall health and well-being.

• Despite the overwhelming workload at her job, Sarah has been able to keep her focus and maintain her health by making time for exercise and practicing mindfulness meditation.

  In this example, "keep body and soul together" is used to indicate that Sarah is managing the stresses of her job without letting it negatively impact her physical or emotional health. By continuing to prioritize her physical health through exercise and her mental health through mindfulness practices, Sarah is able to maintain a healthy balance in all areas of her life.

• The last thing I wanted to do after a long day was cook dinner, but I knew I needed to keep both my body and soul together, so I forced myself to prepare a healthy meal.

  In this example, the idiom is used to illustrate a situation where the person is tired and unmotivated, but recognizes the importance of prioritizing both their physical health (through eating nutritious food) and their emotional well-being (by avoiding unnecessary stress and exhaustion). By acknowledging the importance of maintaining both body and soul, the person is able to make a conscious decision to prioritize their health and overcome their initial reluctance.

• John's free-spirited lifestyle allowed him to travel the world and experience new cultures, but he soon realized that if he didn't start keeping both his body and soul together, his wanderlust would eventually lead to physical and emotional harm.

  In this example, "keep body and soul together" is used to illustrate the importance of balance and moderation, even in the pursuit of personal passions and interests. John's desire to travel and explore new cultures was commendable, but he recognized that his spontaneous lifestyle could eventually lead to negative consequences for both his physical and emotional health. By recognizing the importance of "keeping body and soul together", John was able to maintain a balance between his adventurous spirit and his overall health and well-being.

• The new job is paying me enough to keep body and soul together, but it's still a struggle to make ends meet.

  This idiom is used to mean that a person is just managing to survive financially, as they need enough money to take care of their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and housing, as well as their overall health and well-being. In this example, the speaker is saying that the new job is enough to cover these expenses, but they are still finding it difficult to make ends meet.

• With her expensive habits and lack of discipline, I don't think she knows how to keep body and soul together.

  Here, the idiom is being used to say that the person in question is living beyond her means and may be neglecting her health and well-being as a result. The implication is that she may not be able to afford to take care of herself properly over the long term.

• The musician gave up her career to raise a family, but she's struggling to keep body and soul together now that she's retired and has no income.

  In this example, the idiom is being used to describe the challenge faced by someone who has given up a well-paid job to pursue other interests. After retiring from her career, the musician may be finding it hard to live on a reduced income and may be struggling to cover her basic expenses and maintain her overall health and well-being.

• The woman's determination to keep body and soul together in the face of adversity is inspiring.

  Here, the idiom is being used to describe someone who is facing difficult circumstances but is nevertheless managing to survive and take care of herself. The implication is that the woman's character and resilience are admirable, as she is doing whatever she can to maintain her physical, emotional, and financial health in the face of adversity.

Conclusion

The idiom "keep body and soul together" is used to convey the idea of surviving and maintaining a basic level of physical and emotional well-being. It is often used in the context of enduring challenging or difficult circumstances, where the focus is on simply getting by and staying alive.

People may use this idiom when talking about struggling to make ends meet, dealing with a difficult situation, or facing hardship. It emphasizes the importance of preserving one's physical and emotional health in order to endure and persevere through tough times.

Overall, "keep body and soul together" is a powerful expression that encapsulates the fundamental human instinct to survive and maintain a sense of well-being, even in the face of adversity.

Origin of "Keep body and soul together"

The origin of the idiom "keep body and soul together" can be traced back to ancient belief systems and religious practices. The use of "body" and "soul" reflects the idea of maintaining the physical and spiritual aspects of a person's being.

In medieval times, the concept of body and soul was central to religious teachings, where the soul was seen as the immortal essence of a person, while the body was the mortal vessel that housed it. The idiom likely emerged from this religious and philosophical understanding of the human condition.

Over time, the expression evolved to take on a more secular meaning, emphasizing the basic need for survival and well-being. It has become a common phrase used to convey the idea of enduring hardship and persevering through difficult circumstances, reflecting the universal human experience of striving to "keep body and soul together."