keep the wolf from the door

Related to keep the wolf from the door: play to the gallery

keep the wolf from the door

To do, acquire, or provide something that will allow one or something to narrowly avoid death, ruin, etc. We were extremely poor then, and begging for scraps was all I could do to keep the wolf from the door. This loan will keep the wolf from the door, at least, but I'm worried it won't last long.

See also: door, keep, wolf

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep the wolf from the door

Fig. to maintain oneself at a minimal level; to keep from starving, freezing, etc. I don't make a lot of money, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. We have a small amount of money saved, hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

keep the wolf from the door

Ward off starvation or financial ruin. For example, In many countries people are working simply to keep the wolf from the door, and owning a car or washing machine is just a dream , or Gail would take any job now, just to keep the wolf from the door. This term alludes to the wolf's fabled ravenousness. [Mid-1500s]

See also: door, keep, wolf

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

keep the wolf from the door

Something which keeps the wolf from the door provides you with enough money to live on. He was doing two jobs just to keep the wolf from the door. Government pension provisions will keep the wolf from the door but they will not provide you with a comfortable old age. Note: For many centuries in the past, wolves were symbols of hunger.

See also: door, keep, wolf

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

keep the wolf from the door

have enough money to avert hunger or starvation.

The phrase has been used in this sense since the mid 16th century, but the image of the wolf as a symbol of a devouring and destructive force is found much earlier than this. In Matthew 10:16, for example, Jesus tells his disciples: ‘Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves’.

See also: door, keep, wolf

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep the ˈwolf from the door

(informal) make sure that you have enough money to pay for the basic things like food, rent, heating, etc: Their wages are just enough to keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep the wolf from the door

To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

keep the wolf from the door, to

To ward off starvation or insolvency. This term, based on the lupine characteristic of ravenousness, dates from the sixteenth century and was already included in John Heywood’s Proverbs (1546). A cliché by about 1800, it is heard less often today.

词组	keep the wolf from the door
释义	keep the wolf from the door Related to keep the wolf from the door: play to the gallery keep the wolf from the door To do, acquire, or provide something that will allow one or something to narrowly avoid death, ruin, etc. We were extremely poor then, and begging for scraps was all I could do to keep the wolf from the door. This loan will keep the wolf from the door, at least, but I'm worried it won't last long. See also: door, keep, wolf Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. keep the wolf from the door Fig. to maintain oneself at a minimal level; to keep from starving, freezing, etc. I don't make a lot of money, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. We have a small amount of money saved, hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door. See also: door, keep, wolf McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. keep the wolf from the door Ward off starvation or financial ruin. For example, In many countries people are working simply to keep the wolf from the door, and owning a car or washing machine is just a dream , or Gail would take any job now, just to keep the wolf from the door. This term alludes to the wolf's fabled ravenousness. [Mid-1500s] See also: door, keep, wolf The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. keep the wolf from the door Something which keeps the wolf from the door provides you with enough money to live on. He was doing two jobs just to keep the wolf from the door. Government pension provisions will keep the wolf from the door but they will not provide you with a comfortable old age. Note: For many centuries in the past, wolves were symbols of hunger. See also: door, keep, wolf Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. keep the wolf from the door have enough money to avert hunger or starvation. The phrase has been used in this sense since the mid 16th century, but the image of the wolf as a symbol of a devouring and destructive force is found much earlier than this. In Matthew 10:16, for example, Jesus tells his disciples: ‘Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves’. See also: door, keep, wolf Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary keep the ˈwolf from the door (informal) make sure that you have enough money to pay for the basic things like food, rent, heating, etc: Their wages are just enough to keep the wolf from the door. See also: door, keep, wolf Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary keep the wolf from the door To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door. See also: door, keep, wolf American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. keep the wolf from the door, to To ward off starvation or insolvency. This term, based on the lupine characteristic of ravenousness, dates from the sixteenth century and was already included in John Heywood’s Proverbs (1546). A cliché by about 1800, it is heard less often today. See also: keep, wolf The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: (one) won't hear of (something) (one) could use (something) (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you (one) never would have guessed (one) doesn't give a rip (about something) all right (one) doesn't give a hoot (about something) a/the feel of (something) a straw will show which way the wind blows (one's) heart is set on (something) References in periodicals archive It all represents a fair return on the share-holders' investment - I think you'll agree - and it's more than enough to keep the wolf from the door. Eamonn Holmes' column: Three little letters that can spell out irritation Across Russia, an astonishing 80,000 women have turned to Avon not only to look their best but also to keep the wolf from the door. Surgeons, economists, students and housewives... Somewhere in Siberia AVON IS CALLING Nothing could demonstrate more how out of touch Tory MPs have become - PS66,000 a year is not enough to keep the wolf from the door. Do MPs deserve more money? On a less fishy tip, the pounds 18.95 grilled sirloin steak with goose fat potatoes should easily keep the wolf from the door. INN AND OUT; Jonathan Trew tracks down some new places to try out Shotton, who skippered Oxford to a 3-0 Milk Cup Final victory over QPR in 1986, has sold keeper Phil Whitehead and defender Simon Marsh for pounds 250,000 apiece to keep the wolf from the door. Football: Rough night for romantics; Cup specialists Chelsea cannot be opposed against cash-strapped Oxford It may keep the wolf from the door but life is also about enjoyment. REF JUSTICE I still believe the Black Cats will stay up, but they are still too reliant on one man's goals to keep the wolf from the door. Santa Sav spreads the love this Xmas Murray has already banked pounds 37,803 in prize money from his success in New York so far and should he win again today he will collect another pounds 35,700 - which ought to keep the wolf from the door for a few weeks. Lawn Tennis: ANDY HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS; US OPEN TENNIS Murray needs glory run to pay for coach Brad's gourmet grub It's not too long ago that some of them had to throw themselves on the mercy of kind-hearted developers to keep the wolf from the door. Best politicians money can buy Marie Antoinette may or may not have said "let them eat cake", but there's no doubt that French royalty, and their hangerson, had been stuffing themselves with gateaux in their chateaux for centuries while les paysans were digging up garlic to keep the wolf from the door. TRAVEL: ARISTO CRAZY; Follow the trail of France's rich and infamous on movie jaunts to the Loire's fabulous chateaux Dishes like steak and Guinness pie, macaroni cheese and sticky toffee pudding will keep the wolf from the door. Going out: Inn and out What gave him the right to deny these tickets to loyal Scottish fans just to keep the wolf from the door when a large part of Hampden was built with tax-payers' money? COMMENT: VOICE OF THE SCOTTISH MIRROR Tabor, who admitted to have his 'betting boots' on, said: 'That will keep the wolf from the door.' Ballydoyle squad back with a bang In most cases, each constituency had to find only a miserly pounds 800 to help keep the wolf from the door. BLUES IN THE RED; Tories can't raise pounds 800 per seat When the series finished Smith and Jones - minor stars in the show - set up Talkback to keep the wolf from the door. THE pounds 23m JOKERS; Smith and Jones become millionaires by selling off their TV production company
随便看	have the nerve to do something have the/(one's) feelers out have the patience of a saint have the patience of Job have the presence of mind to do have the presence of mind to (do something) have the right idea have the right sow by the ear have the run of (some place) have the runs have the say have the shakes have the shirt off (one's) back have the shoe on the other foot have the sniffles have the snuffles have the stomach for have the sun in (one's) eyes have (the) time have the time of life have the time of (one's) life have the time of your life have the upper hand have the weight of the world on (one's) shoulders have the wherewithal to (do something)