eke out
To make a small amount of something last a long time, or to barely manage to get what you need.
Meanings
To make a small or insufficient supply of something last longer by using it very carefully.
"They had to eke out their remaining food supplies until the rescue team arrived."
To barely manage to earn a living or maintain an existence, often under difficult conditions.
"Many families in the region eke out a living by fishing and small-scale farming."
To achieve or obtain something with great difficulty and by a very small margin.
"The team eked out a narrow victory in the dying seconds of the match."
Often used in the phrases 'eke out a living' (to barely earn enough to survive) or 'eke out a win/victory' (to win by a very small margin). More formal or literary than everyday alternatives. Appears frequently in journalism. The word 'eke' comes from Old English meaning 'to increase.'
Commonly used with
Forms
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