make a living
verb1
To earn enough income to support oneself and, if applicable, one's family.
- You found paradise in America. You had a good trade, made a good living.1972 March 14, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather, spoken by Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), Paramount Pictures:
2
Of animals To manage to find enough food to survive.
- Synonyms
- bring home the bacon, carry one's weight, earn a living, earn one's corn, earn one's crust, earn one's keep, keep the home fires burning, put bread on the table, put food on the table
- Related terms
- living wage, daily bread, pay the bills, pay the rent
- Hyponyms
- get along, get by, keep body and soul together, keep the lights on, keep the wolf from the door, make do, make ends meet, muddle through, scrape along, scrape by, scratch a living, scratch by, coin it, kill it, make a bundle, make a fortune, make a killing, make a mint, make bank, make money, rake it in, turn an honest penny