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REFERENCE

keep the pot boiling

idiom
Meaning

To maintain one's livelihood; to continue to procure the necessities of living.


Examples
SIMPLE

He works two jobs to keep the pot boiling.

CONTEXTUAL

After the factory closed, she took a part-time job at the bakery just to keep the pot boiling.

COMPLEX

Despite the economic downturn, the small business owner struggled daily to keep the pot boiling for his family.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    boiling frog

    A person who, or thing which, is in a gradually worsening situation without any realization of the peril until it is too late.

  2. 02

    boiling hot

    Extremely hot (having a high temperature: of an object, the weather, a living creature).

  3. 03

    boiling mad

    extremely angry; furious.

  4. 04

    boiling point

    The state of being heated, with high aggression.

  5. 05

    cobbler, keep to your last

    One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.

  6. 06

    earn one's keep

    To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.

  7. 07

    keep a civil tongue in one's head

    To maintain a polite manner of speaking.

  8. 08

    keep a close watch

    to pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.

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