口くち凌しのぎ

noun

living from hand to mouth; barely getting by

Describes a precarious financial situation where one barely manages to survive day by day, often with just enough food or money. The term literally suggests 'staving off the mouth'.

• 失しつ業ぎょうしてからは、ずっと口くち凌しのぎの生せい活かつだ。

  Ever since I lost my job, I've been living from hand to mouth.

• そのわずかな収しゅう入にゅうでは、口くち凌しのぎにもならない。

  With that meager income, I can't even keep body and soul together.