1. Scrape by指“勉强度日”

Borrowing money from friends and relatives helped him to scrape by.

他全靠亲朋好友的接济度日！

2. Make ends meet指“收支相抵”、“量入为出”，“收入微薄，勉强过活”。

They've got to watch every penny to make ends meet.

他们得精打细算才能维持下去。

3. Live from hand to mouth指手里的食物仅能勉强满足眼前的需要，“勉强糊口”。

We always lived from hand to mouth in those days.

那时候，我们总是过着朝不保夕的生活。

4. As poor as a church mouse指“一贫如洗”。

Although very rich in his youth, he is now as poor as a church mouse.

虽然年轻时很有钱, 他现在却穷得一贫如洗。

5. Keep body and soul together指“挣钱糊口”。

I hate my job, but I have to keep body and soul together somehow.

我讨厌我的工作，但不管怎么样我得挣钱糊口。

6. Feel the pinch指因缺钱而陷入困境。

The high rate of unemployment is making many families feel the pinch.

失业率很高，许多家庭感到日子不好过了。

7. Chicken feed指“微不足道的钱”、“零钱”。

My salary is chicken feed compared with hers.

与她相比，我的工资少得可怜。