THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Make ends meet
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To have enough money to cover expenses.
Usage note: keep in mind
Make ends meet means have enough income or resources to cover ordinary expenses. It often describes a tight financial situation. Use made ends meet in the past. The phrase does not mean becoming wealthy or making a profit on a particular sale.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- With rising costs, it’s hard to make ends meet.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
With rising costs, it’s hard to ________.
Show the answer
Make ends meet — To have enough money to cover expenses.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Make ends meet” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To have enough money to cover expenses.
Compare: With rising costs, it’s hard to make ends meet.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
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GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
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More examples in context
- With fewer hours at work, the family found it harder to make ends meet.
- They shared travel costs to help make ends meet during the training course.
Check your understanding
Which situation fits: barely covering rent, food and bills, or earning a very large surplus every month?
Check your answer
Barely covering essential expenses. The phrase concerns balancing everyday income and costs, often with difficulty.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where make ends meet fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.