The phrase "lives hand to mouth" refers to the difficult financial situation of someone who barely has enough to survive on a daily basis. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word "lives" is pronounced /laɪvz/, with a long "i" sound and a voiced "v" at the end. "Hand" is pronounced /hænd/, with a short "a" sound and a silent "d". "Mouth" is pronounced /maʊθ/, with a diphthong "ou" sound and a voiceless "th" at the end. Together, these three words create a common phrase that describes financial struggle.
To live hand to mouth is an idiomatic expression that refers to a difficult financial situation where one is barely able to meet their basic needs and expenses with the limited income or resources they have available. This phrase metaphorically illustrates a state of survival in which an individual or a household has no financial security and must rely solely on each day's earnings to sustain themselves without any surplus for savings or future planning.
The term "hand to mouth" denotes the act of using whatever minimal resources one has at the moment to fulfill immediate necessities, such as food, shelter, and other essential needs. Individuals or families who live hand to mouth often struggle to make ends meet, and any unforeseen expenses or emergencies can easily push them further into financial hardship.
Living hand to mouth typically suggests a lack of financial stability or the inability to build a sustainable future due to the constant struggle to survive in the present. It implies a situation where individuals or households are trapped in a cycle of poverty, continuously relying on each day's earnings to provide for their daily sustenance, with no means of breaking free from this tight financial constraint.