短语 “live hand to mouth” 的意思是 “只有足够的钱支付食物和住所等基本生活必需品，勉强糊口，日子过得紧紧巴巴的”。
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例句
I don't earn much money, so I have to live hand to mouth.
我挣的钱不多，所以只能勉强糊口。

I've just lost my job, so I'm now living hand to mouth.
我刚刚失业，所以现在勉强对付着过日子。

When I was young, I was happy even though I lived hand to mouth.
年轻的时候，我吃一顿算一顿，勉强度日，但那时我很快乐。