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3. keep the wolf from the door

keep the wolf from the door

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keep the wolf from the door

Fig. to maintain oneself at a minimal level; to keep from starving, freezing, etc. I don't make a lot of money, just enough to keep the wolf from the door. We have a small amount of money saved, hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf

keep the wolf from the door

to have enough money to be able to eat and live Forty percent of the country's population receive part-time wages that barely keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf

keep the wolf from the door

Ward off starvation or financial ruin. For example, In many countries people are working simply to keep the wolf from the door, and owning a car or washing machine is just a dream , or Gail would take any job now, just to keep the wolf from the door. This term alludes to the wolf's fabled ravenousness. [Mid-1500s]

See also: door, keep, wolf

keep the wolf from the door

To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.

See also: door, keep, wolf