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make do
make do (with someone or something)
to do as well as possible with someone or something. You'll have to make do with less money next year. The economy is very weak. We'll have to make do with John even though he's a slow worker.
make do
to use what is available although it is not everything you need She's a mother of three who struggles to make do on very little money. The storm knocked down power lines, and we had to make do without electricity.
make do
to manage to live without things you would like to have or with things of a worse quality than you would like (often + with ) When we got married we didn't have any cupboards. We had to make do with wooden boxes. They didn't have much money, but they made do.
make do
Get along with the means available, especially insufficient means. For example, We'll just have to make do with one potato apiece. [c. 1900]
make do
To manage to get along with the means available: had to make do on less income.