The phrase “make ends meet” means to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need. A simpler way to understand this phrase might be “to cover all the expenses” or “have enough money to survive”.
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
As a single mother working two jobs, Jenny finds it challenging to make ends meet and provide for her three children.
Example 2:
After losing his job, it became increasingly difficult for Mark to make ends meet, and he had to start selling some of his belongings.
Now let’s use this phrase in two conversation scenarios:
Example 3:
Alice: Hey, John! How is your new job going?
John: Well, Alice, it’s not great. The salary is so low, and I’m struggling to make ends meet.
Example 4:
Sam: Hi, Rachel! You look stressed. Is everything okay?
Rachel: Oh, Sam, I’m having a hard time trying to make ends meet after paying my tuition fees.
So, when someone is trying to “make ends meet,” it means they are doing their best to cover all their expenses, often in a situation where their income is low or their expenses are high. It’s about managing to survive financially.