Make Ends Meet
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
To have just enough money to pay for the things you need; to manage on a limited income.
Quick meaning: To make ends meet means to earn just enough money to cover your basic expenses. If a family struggles to make ends meet, they have difficulty paying for food, rent, and bills with the money they have.
Meaning
When people make ends meet, they manage to pay for everything they need with the money they have, even when money is tight. The phrase describes balancing income against expenses so that there is just enough — not extra, but not a shortfall either.
The idiom often appears with words that show difficulty, such as “struggle to make ends meet” or “barely make ends meet.” These versions emphasise that someone is only just managing financially. People may make ends meet by working extra hours, cutting spending, or being careful with every pound.
It is a sympathetic, everyday phrase used to talk about household budgets, low wages, and the rising cost of living. It does not imply being rich — it describes coping, not thriving.
Origin
The idiom comes from an old accounting metaphor. In bookkeeping, a person or business records money coming in (income) and money going out (expenses). At the end of a financial period, the goal was to make the two “ends” of the accounts balance — so that what you earned met what you spent, with no deficit.
When the two ends “meet,” income and expenditure are equal and the books balance. The fuller older form of the phrase was sometimes “make both ends of the year meet,” referring to balancing a household’s finances across a full year. Reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary catalogue thousands of such figurative expressions, showing how idiomatic meanings take shape over time.
The expression has been in use in English since at least the 17th century and remains extremely common today, especially in discussions about wages and the cost of living.
Example Sentences
After the rent went up, they could barely make ends meet each month.
She took a second job to help her family make ends meet.
Many students struggle to make ends meet while paying for tuition and accommodation.
Dialogue Example
A: How are things going since you cut back your hours?
B: Honestly, it’s hard. We’re only just managing to make ends meet.
A: I understand — everything seems so expensive these days.
Usage Notes
This idiom is neutral to informal and common in both British and American English. The verb “make” changes with tense: “makes,” “made,” and “making.” Note that “ends” is always plural and “meet” never takes “to” before it — the fixed phrase is simply make ends meet.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes say “make end meet” or “make ends to meet.” The correct form is make ends meet — “ends” is plural and there is no “to.” Avoid confusing it with “meet the deadline” or “make a meeting,” which are unrelated.
Related Idioms
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Quick Check: Make Ends Meet
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Make Ends Meet” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “After the rent went up, they could barely _____ each month.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "make ends meet" mean?
It means to have just enough money to pay for the things you need. It describes managing on a limited income so that what you earn covers what you spend.
How do you use "make ends meet" in a sentence?
You can say "They struggle to make ends meet" or "She works two jobs to make ends meet." It is often used with words like "barely" or "struggle" to show difficulty.
Where does "make ends meet" come from?
It comes from an old accounting metaphor. Making the two "ends" of a budget or financial year meet means income and expenses balance with no deficit. The phrase dates back to at least the 17th century.
Is "make ends meet" formal or informal?
It is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts. You will find it in newspapers and reports about the economy as well as in everyday conversation.
Is "ends" singular or plural in this idiom?
It is always plural: "ends." The two ends are income and expenses, which need to meet. Saying "make end meet" is incorrect.
What is a similar idiom to "make ends meet"?
"Live from hand to mouth" is similar and means having barely enough to survive. "Tighten your belt" means to spend less, which can help you make ends meet.
Does "make ends meet" mean being poor?
Not exactly. It means just managing financially, which often suggests money is tight. It describes coping with a limited income rather than being wealthy.
Is this idiom used in American English?
Yes. It is common in both British and American English and is widely understood around the world.
What are common collocations with "make ends meet"?
Common combinations include "struggle to make ends meet," "barely make ends meet," and "work hard to make ends meet."
What English level is "make ends meet" suitable for?
It is suitable for A2 (Elementary) learners. The words are simple, and the idiom is very common in discussions about money and daily life.