Eking Meaning in English

word · lemma: eke

US

UK

Definition

Making something last by using it little by little, often used for money or food; also means surviving with just enough to get by.

Usage & Nuances

Usually appears in the phrase 'eke out' or 'eking out'. It's formal or literary, rarely used in speech. Common with 'eke out a living', 'eking out their savings'. Not the same as 'earning'—it's about barely managing.

• Spanish: ganando poco a poco - sobreviviendo con lo justo
• Portuguese (BR): tirando aos poucos - sobrevivendo pelo mínimo
• Portuguese (PT): arranjando aos poucos - sobrevivendo com o mínimo
• Chinese (Simplified): 勉强维持（生活） - 勉强度日
• Chinese (Traditional): 勉強維持（生活） - 勉強度日
• Hindi: मुश्किल से गुज़ारा करना - थोड़े-थोड़े से चलाना
• Arabic: الكسب بالكاد - العيش بالكاد
• Bengali: কৃপণভাবে চালানো - কষ্টে টিকে থাকা
• Russian: с трудом перебиваться - с трудом растягивать (деньги, еду)
• Japanese: やりくりする - しのぐ
• Vietnamese: chật vật duy trì - tận dụng từng chút
• Korean: 간신히 버티다 - 아껴 쓰다
• Turkish: kıt kanaat geçirmek - tasarruf ederek idare etmek
• Urdu: بمشکل گزارہ کرنا - کفایت شعاری سے گزارنا
• Indonesian: cầm cự - xoay xở (với số ít ỏi)

Example Sentences

They are eking out their small savings until the next payday.

basic

She was eking out the last bit of milk for her tea.

basic

The villagers are eking out a living by fishing.

basic

I was eking it out on instant noodles during college.

natural

People have been eking through the cold winter with firewood they collected in autumn.

natural

After losing his job, he's been eking out with odd temporary gigs.

natural