Make ends meet

Definitions

to have enough money to cover expenses
To have just enough income or resources to cover all necessary expenses and make a living, without any surplus or extra money
to bring two things together
To combine two things or elements in order to create a cohesive or effective whole, often used in the sense of making a difficult or challenging situation work
to reach a satisfactory conclusion or solution
To successfully resolve or finish something, often used in the context of overcoming obstacles or challenges in order to achieve a desired outcome

Examples of Make ends meet

After losing her job, Sarah had to scrimp and save to make ends meet.

This idiom refers to the struggle of managing one's finances to cover all expenses, especially during difficult times. The phrase "make ends meet" comes from the image of a sewing needle threading the beginning and end of a piece of fabric together to complete a seam. In this context, it's used to describe the act of balancing income and expenses to avoid being in debt or falling behind on bills.
With three kids in college, John and his wife had to make ends meet on a tight budget.

Here, the idiom is used to describe a financial situation where resources are limited, and expenses exceed income. The phrase "make ends meet" highlights the need to be thrifty and resourceful to cover all necessary expenses.
The struggling artist had to make ends meet by taking on odd jobs to pay the bills.

This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where someone is pursuing a passion or career that doesn't provide a steady income. The phrase "make ends meet" suggests that the person is finding ways to make ends meet, even if it means taking on temporary or low-paying work.
After the company downsized, many employees had to make ends meet by finding new jobs.

Here, the idiom is used to describe a situation where job loss has led to financial hardship. The phrase "make ends meet" implies that the employees are working to find new sources of income to cover their expenses.
The newlyweds had to make ends meet by combining their finances.

This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a financial situation that results from a life change, such as getting married or starting a family. The phrase "make ends meet" suggests that the couple is working together to manage their finances and cover their expenses.

Conclusion

The idiom "make ends meet" is often used to describe the act of managing or surviving on a limited income or resources. It can also refer to the act of combining or bringing two things together to create a unified whole. Additionally, it can express the idea of successfully overcoming difficulties or challenges in order to achieve a desired outcome.

Origin of "Make ends meet"

The origin of this idiom is believed to come from the 16th century, where the word "end" was commonly used to refer to the amount of money left over after all expenses were paid. The word "meet" in this context refers to being able to join or connect together, as in "meeting" two ends of a rope. This phrase was used to indicate the difficulty of balancing income and expenses in order to make a living.

Over time, the meaning of the idiom evolved to also include the idea of successfully resolving or overcoming challenges in order to achieve a desired outcome. This could be attributed to the original meaning of "meeting" two ends to create a cohesive whole or the idea of successfully connecting or bringing together different elements.

Today, the idiom "make ends meet" continues to be commonly used to express the financial struggles of living on a limited income, as well as the act of successfully overcoming difficulties to achieve a goal.