scrape along
Just get by
To scrape along is to manage with difficulty, barely getting by: We scraped along on her salary until I found work.
The image is of something dragging against a surface with friction—progress that's possible but labored.
The phrase suggests financial or practical hardship endured without quite failing.
- get bySurvive with minimal resources
- make doManage with insufficient resources
- copeHandle difficulties adequately
- eke outObtain with difficulty
- manageDirect or handle successfully
subsist · survive · keep one's head above water · contend · muddle through · grapple · make ends meet · keep going · scrimp · tighten one's belt · stretch a dollar · soldier on · make out · keep the wolf from the door · improvise · deal · toil · cut the mustard