eke out
Stretch to suffice
Eke out means to make something last or stretch further through careful management: We eked out our supplies until the rescue arrived.
It also means to barely manage to achieve or obtain something: She eked out a living selling handmade jewelry.
The phrase suggests difficulty, scarcity, or just getting by.
Maintain minimal existence
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- surviveContinue to exist
- persevereContinue despite obstacles
- manageDirect or handle successfully
cope · get by · scrape by · struggle · sustain · maintain · exist · weather
Spend very sparingly
- economizeReduce expenses deliberately
- saveProtect from loss
- skimpEconomize excessively
- pinch penniesSpend as little as possible
budget · conserve · ration · pare down · cut corners · tighten belt · thrift · parsimony
subsist
Maintain minimal existence
manage · cope · get by · scrape by · struggle · sustain · maintain · exist · weather · hold on
scrimp
Spend very sparingly
pinch pennies · budget · conserve · ration · pare down · cut corners · tighten belt · thrift · parsimony · prudence
stretch
Pull to extend
- prolongExtend in duration
- supplementSomething added to complete
- augmentIncrease in size
maximize · pad out · spin out · draw out · sustain · preserve · maintain · continue · lengthen · expand
barely
Only just, almost not
skimpy · insufficient · limited · modest · inadequate · scarce · deficient · thin · lean · shortage
eke outbreeze through
Accomplish with effortless ease
coast · sail through · have it easy · cruise · walk away with