keep the wolf from the door
idiom
informal
: to have or earn enough money to afford things (such as food and clothing) that is needed to live
They make just enough to keep the wolf from the door.
Examples of keep the wolf from the door in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His 14 novels were written at speed to keep the wolf from the door, and, at his lowest ebb, the jailers at bay.
—
The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near keep the wolf from the door
Cite this Entry
“Keep the wolf from the door.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20the%20wolf%20from%20the%20door. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share