keep the lights on
Sustain basic operations
To keep the lights on is to maintain basic operations or minimum functionality, especially financial survival.
The phrase evokes paying the electric bill—the bare minimum to stay in business or keep a household running: The freelance work isn't glamorous, but it keeps the lights on.
It often implies doing unglamorous but necessary work rather than pursuing more ambitious goals.
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- bare minimumSmallest acceptable quantity
- bare bonesMinimal necessary elements
- make ends meetManage financially, just barely
stay afloat · scraping by · lifeblood · pay the bills · sustain · lifeline · power · energy · maintain · operate · basic needs · survival · subsistence · resourcefulness · necessity · uptime · business · resilience
keep the lights ongo under
Sink or fail completely
shut down · go out of business · go bankrupt · close up shop · fold
keep the lights onpull the plug
Discontinue or terminate something
walk away · abandon ship · throw in the towel · give up the ghost · cut losses
keep, keeps, kept, keeper, keepers, keeping, keepsake, keepsakes, light