hand-to-mouth existence

There followed three similar years of a hand-to-mouth existence, the privations of which he endured in silence.

It was certainly a hand-to-mouth existence so far as the daily manna was concerned.

For the poor ryot it is a miserable hand-to-mouth existence when crops are poor.

Room 39, where they lived a sort of hand-to-mouth existence, was always untidy and always noisy.

In spite of the enthusiasm of the conductor and the skill and talent of the orchestra, the society led a hand-to-mouth existence.