live off the land

live off the land

To survive by eating what can be foraged, hunted, or grown in nature. Stranded in a remote part of the wilderness, we were forced to live off the land until a rescue team arrived. She had a burning desire to move out of the city and start living off the land on a tiny farm somewhere in the countryside.
See also: land, live, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

live off the land

to live by eating only the food that one produces from the land; to survive by gathering or stealing food, fruits, berries, eggs, etc., while traveling through the countryside. We lived off the land for a few years when we first started out farming. The homeless man wandered about, living off the land.
See also: land, live, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

live off the land (or the country)

live on whatever food you can obtain by hunting, gathering, or subsistence farming.
1995 Empire Harrison Ford is the frazzled father who ups his family from cosy suburbia in an effort to live off the land, get back to nature, etc.
See also: land, live, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

live off the ˈland

eat whatever food you can grow, kill or find yourself: Having grown up on a farm, Jack was more used to living off the land than the rest of the group.
See also: land, live, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • against all the odds
  • against the odds
  • against all odds
  • eat for two
  • lunch off
  • eating
  • forage for (something)
  • What’s eating someone?
  • have somebody eating out of your hand
  • have someone eating out of your hand
References in periodicals archive
The 33-year-old, who also thinks a Russian invasion is likely post-Brexit.", plans to flee his city-centre flat in Glasgow to live off the land in a remote part of the Highlands.
SURVIVAL BREXPERT; GETTING READY TO HEAD TO THE HILLS; Call-centre worker spends thousands preparing for Brexit doomsday scenario Mark's stockpiling food and drugs and has learned how to hunt deer and squirrels; But plans for underground bunker are on hold as he lives in a city-centre flat
So they're the die-hard fighters that we're seeing that are trying to live off the land and see this to the end," he added.
Foreign fighters still flowing into Syria to fight for IS - Dunford
At an age when most children are playing hide-and-seek, he was learning important lessons on survival; how to read the weather, find shelter in a frozen snowscape, or live off the land as his Inuit neighbors had done for centuries.
Born To Ice
"Participatory Ecology and Foraging Walk: Can We Be Stewards of Biodiversity and Live Off the Land at the Same Time?" will address the joys and challenges of land stewardship and the potential for humans to have a positive ecological footprint on nature.
Ecologist to lead foraging walk at College of DuPage
They live off the land, tending cattle or growing crops while city slickers revel in urban comforts.
Move it, add extra years to your life
Rachael said: "Those attending will see there is no better place to live off the land than right here in Glendale.
Rural bonanza shines light on farmers' efforts; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
They move to the wild where they live off the land, surrounded by a few people who become part of their community.
Hunt, John. The Provider: The Alaskan Chronicles, Book 1
Looking for challenges and fulfilment, decides to follow a childhood dream and live off the land with her own small farm.
WEDNESDAY
My wife was going to teach and we'd live off the land. I wanted to get away from this rat race.
Will it turn out rosy in Eden?
Continuing the inspiring story of ageing boybander Abz Love's bid to live off the land on a remote Welsh smallholding, we meet our hero one year into his backto-nature project.
Poor Abz is not fabz in farmville
"Those who live off the land must have respect for it," says one farmer.
Explosive look at one special island; PICK OF THE DAY ICELAND: LAND OF ICE AND FIRE (BBC2, 9pm)
Halfway through the 70s, the sitcom The Good Life gave every suburbanite the dream they could live off the land and become self-sufficient.
WE LOVE ENTERTAINMENT
He led them into one of the most dangerous Central American rainforests and, over 12 days, taught them the skills to live off the land.
grumpsForest; BEST TV By Jen Rodger & Neil Batey We love BEAR GRYLLS: MISSION SURVIVE Fri ITV 9pm NEW SERIES
Inspired by a dream to return to their roots and live off the land, Paul and Phyllis Van Amburgh quit their jobs in the city, purchased a defunct dairy farm, and relocated their young family to the country in pursuit of a more fulfilling lifestyle.
Documenting the Farming Life