ENGLISH
REFERENCE

live paycheck to paycheck

idiom
Meaning

To have the entirety of one's earnings consumed by living expenses, thus having nothing left over to save; to make just enough (money, etc.) to survive; to scratch by.


Origin

disputed origin

A reference to a person fully expending the entire earnings of their paycheck and not having anything left prior to receiving their next paycheck.

Examples
SIMPLE

Many families live paycheck to paycheck these days.

CONTEXTUAL

Because rent is so expensive, she has to live paycheck to paycheck to cover her basic needs.

COMPLEX

Despite working two jobs, the rising cost of living forces the couple to live paycheck to paycheck, leaving them with no savings for emergencies.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    live a lie

    To conceal something about oneself, without the knowledge of which others cannot know one's true character or perspective.

  2. 02

    live and die by

    Be completely reliant upon.

  3. 03

    live and let live

    To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.

  4. 04

    live beyond one's means

    Have a lifestyle where one's spending regularly exceeds one's income.

  5. 05

    live down

    To cause others to forget about something embarrassing that happened to oneself.

  6. 06

    live in sin

    To cohabit as if husband and wife without being married.

  7. 07

    live in the past

    To dwell on and ruminate about past events.

  8. 08

    live in the shadow of

    To be overshadowed one's entire life, especially by a relative or predecessor.

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