hand–to–mouth 
/ˈhændtəˈmaʊθ/ adjective
/ˈhændtəˈmaʊθ/ adjective : having only enough money to survive
▪ After the factories closed, many people lived a hand-to-mouth existence. [=many people were poor] — see also hand to mouth at 1hand
▪ After the factories closed, many people lived a hand-to-mouth existence. [=many people were poor] — see also hand to mouth at 1hand
