make both ends meet

make both ends meet

According to the Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Li à NgR à J à ch à, which means to determine the limit of expenditure according to the amount of income. It comes from the biography of Su Xun in the new book of Tang Dynasty.

Idiom usage

To decide expenditure on the basis of income

Analysis of Idioms

Close synonym: living within your means

The origin of Idioms

In the biography of Su Xun in the new book of Tang Dynasty, he said, "he was still simple and quiet, and he emphasized hard work, that is, he raised troops, sent and hired people, opened wells and set furnaces, worked out according to his income, and won the market and grain according to his income."

Idiom explanation

The limit of expenditure depends on the amount of income. The same as "living within the limits of income".