makes do
Manages with less
Makes do means to manage or get by with whatever is available, even if it's not ideal or sufficient.
The phrase suggests resourcefulness in the face of limitation—accepting a substitute or working with less than what's wanted.
We didn't have butter, so we made do with margarine.
Times were hard, but they made do.
It's the simple present form of make do, typically used with a plural or second-person subject.
Improvise temporary repair
- cobbleWorn stone for paths
- kludgeAwkward but functional solution
- bodgeCrude temporary repair
- jerry-buildConstruct hastily and poorly
MacGyver · patch-up · rig · hack · throw together · whip up · scrounge · tinker
Survive with minimal resources
- get bySurvive with minimal resources
- stretchPull to extend
- eke outObtain with difficulty
- scrimpSpend very sparingly
pinch pennies · tighten belt · go without · ration · skimp · spare · lean · meager
Reach final terms
- copeHandle difficulties adequately
- manageDirect or handle successfully
- endureSuffer through without yielding
- toleratePermit without approval
bear · abide · resign · reconcile · content · satisfy · accommodate · adjust
Meeting the requirement
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- tolerableAble to be endured
acceptable · serviceable · functional · workable · sufficient · minimal · basic · modest
Aggressively spirited despite odds
- inventiveShowing original thought
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- ingeniousCleverly original in design
- creativeProducing original ideas
thrifty · frugal · economical · enterprising · self-reliant · practical · adaptable · flexible
jury-rig
Improvise temporary repair
MacGyver · jerry-build · patch-up · rig · hack · throw together · whip up · scrounge · tinker · contrive
scrape by
Survive with minimal resources
scrimp · pinch pennies · tighten belt · go without · ration · skimp · spare · lean · meager · scarce
settle
Reach final terms
- copeHandle difficulties adequately
- manageDirect or handle successfully
- endureSuffer through without yielding
tolerate · bear · abide · resign · reconcile · content · satisfy · accommodate · adjust · live with
enough
Meeting the requirement
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
tolerable · acceptable · serviceable · functional · workable · sufficient · minimal · basic · modest · simple
scrappy
Aggressively spirited despite odds
creative · thrifty · frugal · economical · enterprising · self-reliant · practical · adaptable · flexible · resilient