make ends meet Definition

end
noun

1. The point or part farthest from the beginning, or either of the points or parts farthest from the middle, where something stops.
2. A finish or conclusion.

Thesaurus: conclusion, outcome, result, resolution, upshot, consequence, effect, pay-off, expiration, completion, termination, adjournment, close, denouement, finish, finis, finale; Antonym: beginning, opening, start.
3. colloq
The last straw; the limit.
Form: the end
4. A piece left over.

Example: a cigarette end
5. Death or destruction.

Example: meet one's end
6. An object or purpose.

Example: The end justifies the means
Thesaurus: purpose, goal, aim, objective, object, intention, reason, aspiration.
7. sport.
One of the two halves of a pitch or court defended by a team or player, etc.
8. The part of a project, etc for which one is responsible.

Example: had a few problems at their end

verb, tr & intr ended, ending

1. To finish or cause something to finish.

Thesaurus: finish, stop, quit, close, halt, conclude, discontinue, cease, abort, drop, call it a day; Antonym: begin, start.
intr
2. To reach a conclusion or cease to exist.

Derivative: ended

Brought to an end.

Note: in compounds
Having ends of a specified kind.

Idiom: at a loose end

With nothing to do.

Idiom: at an end

Terminated, discontinued or exhausted.

Idiom: at the end of one's tether

Exasperated; at the limit of one's endurance.

Idiom: at the end of the day

colloq
When everything has been taken into account.

Idiom: be the end of someone

colloq
To bring about their death.

Idiom: end it all

colloq
To kill oneself.

Idiom: end of story

colloq
That's that.

Idiom: end on (end to end with ends touching.)

With the end pointing towards one.

Idiom: get hold of the wrong end of the stick

To misunderstand.

Idiom: get one's end away (have one's end away)

slang
To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom: in the end

Finally; after much discussion or work, etc.

Idiom: keep one's end up (hold one's end up)

colloq
To fulfil one's promises or obligations in spite of difficulties.

Idiom: make ends meet

To live within one's income and avoid debts.
Thesaurus: survive, subsist, budget, estimate, manage.

Idiom: no end

colloq
Very much.
Example: His visit pleased her no end

Idiom: no end of people (no end of things)

Very many; a lot.

Idiom: on end

Vertical; standing straight up.

Continuously; without a pause.

Idiom: put an end to something

To make it stop, usually completely and permanently.

Idiom: the end of the road

The point beyond which one cannot continue or survive.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon ende.

Phrasal Verb: end up

To arrive or find oneself eventually or finally.
Example: We ended up in Manchester
To finish.

Phrasal Verb: end up as something

To become (a specified thing) finally.