English Dictionary

HAND TO MOUTH

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hand to mouth mean? 

HAND TO MOUTH (adverb)
  The adverb HAND TO MOUTH has 1 sense:

1. with barely enough money for immediate needsplay

  Familiarity information: HAND TO MOUTH used as an adverb is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


HAND TO MOUTH (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

With barely enough money for immediate needs

Context example:

they lived form hand to mouth


 Context examples 


No one knows where his grip may fall, for he is far too rich and far too cunning to work from hand to mouth.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I never in my life saw men so careless of the morrow; hand to mouth is the only word that can describe their way of doing; and what with wasted food and sleeping sentries, though they were bold enough for a brush and be done with it, I could see their entire unfitness for anything like a prolonged campaign.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"The head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harm." (English proverb)

"Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours." (Native American proverbs and quotes, Chief Tecumseh)

"The fisherman is the shark's friend." (Arabic proverb)

"A good start is half the job done." (Dutch proverb)


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