食くいはぐれる

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

miss a meal; go without a meal

Used when someone fails to eat a meal due to circumstances, often implying an unintended skip.

• 忙いそがしくて昼ひる飯めしを食くいはぐれた。

  I was so busy I missed lunch.

• 会かい議ぎが長なが引びいて、夕ゆう食しょくを食くいはぐれてしまった。

  The meeting ran long and I ended up missing dinner.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

lose one's livelihood; lose the means to earn a living

Figurative extension: losing one's source of income or ability to make a living, often due to job loss or economic hardship. The emphatic form 食いっぱぐれる is common here.

• 不ふ景けい気きで仕し事ごとを食くいっぱぐれた。

  I lost my job due to the recession.

• リストラされて、食くいはぐれるかと思おもった。

  I was laid off and thought I might lose my livelihood.