hand-to-mouth existence
collocation in Englishmeaningsofhand-to-mouthandexistence
These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withexistence.
hand-to-mouth
adjective
uk/ˌhænd.təˈmaʊθ/us/ˌhænd.təˈmaʊθ/
having only just enough money ...
See more athand-to-mouth
existence
noun
uk/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/us/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/
the fact of something or ...
See more atexistence
(Definition ofhand-to-mouthandexistencefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)
Examplesofhand-to-mouth existence
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Ahand-to-mouthexistenceinvolved difficulty in paying his landlady and even a threatened eviction.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Theirhand-to-mouthexistencehas prompted last resort strategies of rural asset disposal and sale of labour on exploitative terms.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The professions who work there have ahand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
He painted a picture of ahand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Nevertheless, up to now there have been ahand-to-mouthexistenceand some doubts about the future as to which way tariffs would move.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In very difficult circumstances, they are being forced to live ahand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We cannot base our calculations merely on a sort ofhand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But nothing would delay that moment more than ahand-to-mouthexistencewhich dare not face the realities of the position.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Far too many of our brightest scientists live ahand-to-mouthexistenceon short-term contracts.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Many pensioners—perhaps even a majority of them—are relatively well off, but many live ahand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In most cases theirs is ahand-to-mouthexistence, and only rarely would the user-dealers have assets of any substantial value.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They live ahand-to-mouthexistenceand the seamen's strike has hit these crofters in the islands very hard indeed.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
On the contrary, the majority of them live what can only be described as ahand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is ahand-to-mouthexistencewhich is unfair to them, and it is also unfair to their drug addicts who go there.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The project has led ahand-to-mouthexistenceover the past few months.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If allocated properly, aid has the potential to help millions of people escape ahand-to-mouthexistence.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
It is ahand-to-mouthexistencein which it is impossible to plan ahead.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But many of the most thoughtful of the executives are getting completely "fed up" with thishand-to-mouthexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We were living a completehand-to-mouthexistence, never quite knowing if funds would be available to pay the researcher and administrator whom we hired at a very modest salary.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It obviously prefers ahand-to-mouthexistence.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofhand-to-mouth
Go to the definition ofexistence
See other collocations withexistence