“Make ends meet” is a familiar idiom for many IELTS learners, especially as it frequently appears in IELTS Speaking topics related to personal finance. In this article, we’ll explain what “make ends meet” means, how to use it correctly in different contexts, and how to apply it naturally in the IELTS test.
1. What Does the Idiom “Make Ends Meet” Mean?
Make ends meet” refers to earning just enough money to cover basic living expenses, such as rent, food, and bills—without going into debt. It’s often used to describe people who are just getting by financially, often under pressure.
Examples:
Even with two jobs, she barely makes ends meet.
It’s becoming harder for young graduates to make ends meet in big cities.
2. Origin of the Idiom “Make Ends Meet”
The idiom dates back to at least the 17th century. One common theory traces its origin to accounting, where income would be recorded at one “end” of a ledger and expenses at the other. If the numbers matched—i.e., the ends met—it meant the person was financially balanced.
Another theory suggests a sewing-related origin. In tailoring, “making ends meet” could refer to bringing the edges of fabric together to complete a garment—symbolizing resourcefulness and efficiency when resources are limited.
Regardless of origin, “make ends meet” has become a widely recognized way to express the challenge of balancing income and expenses.
3. How to Use the Idiom “Make Ends Meet”
Common sentence structure:
Subject + make(s) ends meet
She makes ends meet by working two jobs.
With modal verbs:
Subject + [modal verb] + make ends meet
They might not be able to make ends meet if the rent increases.
You should find ways to make ends meet without going into debt.
With verbs expressing effort or difficulty:
Subject + [struggle/try/manage] + to make ends meet
Many small businesses struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic.
She’s working two jobs just to try to make ends meet.
4. Contexts Where “Make Ends Meet” Is Commonly Used
Context | Example |
Describing basic financial stability (positive) | With careful budgeting, they finally make ends meet each month. |
Describing financial struggle (negative) | They barely make ends meet even with both of them working. |
5. Synonyms & Related Idioms
Here are idioms and phrases similar to “make ends meet”, often used to describe financial hardship or budgeting:
Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Get by | To survive with limited means | We’re getting by on my teacher’s salary. |
Keep one’s head above water | To manage despite financial difficulties | They’re struggling to keep their heads above water after losing an income. |
Tighten one’s belt | To reduce spending | He had to tighten his belt after losing his job. |
Live within one’s means | To not spend more than one earns | Financial advisors recommend living within your means. |
Scrape by / Scrape along | To survive on just enough money | He scraped by on his savings after being laid off. |
Keep the wolf from the door | To earn just enough to avoid starvation or hardship | Her job barely keeps the wolf from the door. |
Survive on (an amount) | To live with limited income | It's hard to survive on a student budget in London. |
6. Using “Make Ends Meet” in the IELTS Speaking Test
This idiom can be effectively used in answers related to:
Cost of living / Personal finances
Part-time jobs / Students working while studying
Family or household budgets
Impacts of inflation, unemployment, or the pandemic
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Question: Do you work part-time?
Answer: Yes, I do. I have a part-time job at a café to help make ends meet while studying abroad. It’s not much, but it covers some basic expenses.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Cue card: Describe a period in your life when you faced a challenge
Answer: I'd like to talk about the time right after I graduated. I was job hunting while living independently, which was financially tough. I had to work several part-time jobs just to make ends meet. That experience taught me a lot about budgeting and resilience.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Question: What are the biggest financial challenges facing young people today?
Answer: One of the biggest issues is the rising cost of living, especially rent. Many young people find it difficult to make ends meet on an entry-level salary, let alone save for the future. This often leads them to live with their parents longer or take on multiple jobs.
7. Practice Exercises: Make Ends Meet (with Answers)
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks using the correct form of “make ends meet.”
With a minimum wage, it’s very challenging for single parents to make ends meet.
After the company downsized, many employees suddenly found they couldn't make ends meet.
She's looking for a second job because her current income isn’t enough to make ends meet.
Even with careful budgeting, they still barely make ends meet each month.
If you want to make ends meet, you might need to reconsider your spending habits.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using “make ends meet.”
They barely have enough money to cover their basic expenses. → They barely make ends meet.
It’s difficult for her to balance her income and expenditure. → She finds it difficult to make ends meet.
He struggles financially to pay for all his necessary costs. → He struggles to make ends meet.
Many families find it hard to survive financially with the current minimum wage. → Many families find it hard to make ends meet with the current minimum wage.
Students often need extra income to afford their living expenses. → Students often need extra income to make ends meet while studying.
They found it hard to survive financially after losing their jobs. → They found it hard to make ends meet after losing their jobs.
I had to do freelance work to pay for rent and food. → I had to do freelance work to make ends meet.
She earns just enough money to cover her basic living expenses. → She earns just enough to make ends meet.
Boost Your IELTS Score with the Idiom “Make Ends Meet”
Mastering idioms like “make ends meet” helps you express ideas about finances and life challenges more naturally and impressively in the IELTS Speaking test. Using idiomatic language effectively not only boosts your Lexical Resource score but also shows native-like fluency—something examiners highly value.
So keep practicing and add “make ends meet” to your vocabulary bank today!