動詞 eke out:

1. supplement what is thought to be deficient
   同義詞：fill out
2. live from day to day, as with some hardship
3. make by laborious and precarious means
   同義詞：squeeze out
4. obtain with difficulty
   同義詞：squeeze out

1. In old China workers and peasants could hardly eke out a living, let alone send their children to school.
   在舊中國，工人農(nóng)民連生活都難以維持，更談不上送子女上學(xué)了。
2. They eke out a bare existence (ie They scarcely manage) on his low salary.
   他們靠他微薄的薪金勉強　口。