hand-to-mouth Hear it!

hand-to-mouth Definition

hand·-to-mouth (-mo̵ut̸h)

adjective

characterized by the necessity of spending or consuming all that is obtained; at or below the level of mere subsistence

hand-to-mouth Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • existence: His hand-to-mouth existence, where his death could always be only minutes away, spells the end of his innocence.
  • basis: Mark Seddon has edited Tribune on a hand-to-mouth basis for 10 years, feeding his own family by doing freelance work elsewhere.

Browse dictionary entries near hand-to-mouth

  1. hand-to-hand
  2. hand's-breadth
  3. hand-running
  4. hand puppet
  5. hand-
  6. hand over
  7. hand out
  8. hand organ
  9. hand on
  10. hand-me-down
  1. hand up
  2. hand-woven
  3. hand-wringing
  4. handbag
  5. handball
  6. handbarrow
  7. handbasket
  8. handbill
  9. handblown
  10. handbook