In the following question, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom "Live from hand to mouth".

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: To have enough money to live on and nothing extra

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question deals with an English idiom, Live from hand to mouth. Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be guessed from the individual words, so they must be learned as complete units. Examinations often include idioms because they show how well a learner understands natural, everyday English beyond literal vocabulary. Here we must choose the explanation that matches the established meaning of the idiom.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: Live from hand to mouth.
- Options: filthy rich people, to be dependent on others, to have enough money to live on and nothing extra, living in miserable conditions.
- The idiom relates to a person's financial state and daily living conditions.
- We must find the meaning that best matches standard usage.


Concept / Approach:
Live from hand to mouth describes a situation in which a person earns or has just enough money to meet basic daily needs, with no savings or surplus. It does not necessarily mean total misery, but it indicates financial insecurity and the absence of extra resources. Looking at the options, the one that reflects this idea is to have enough money to live on and nothing extra. The other options either exaggerate the poverty or shift the meaning in an incorrect direction.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard meaning of Live from hand to mouth as living with barely enough income to cover daily expenses.Step 2: Option filthy rich people clearly cannot be correct because it describes extreme wealth, not lack of surplus.Step 3: To be dependent on others suggests relying on someone else for support, which is a different idea. A person living from hand to mouth may still be earning an income independently.Step 4: To have enough money to live on and nothing extra matches the sense of surviving day to day without savings or comfort.Step 5: Living in miserable conditions is too broad and can describe many kinds of hardship, not specifically the narrow financial meaning of the idiom.Step 6: Therefore, the correct explanation is to have enough money to live on and nothing extra.


Verification / Alternative check:
Typical example sentences support this meaning. For instance, After he lost his job, he had to live from hand to mouth for a few years before things improved, clearly indicates that his income was barely enough for daily needs. It does not necessarily say that he was dependent on others or that he was always in miserable surroundings, although both could be true in some cases. The core meaning, however, is the lack of surplus money beyond basic requirements.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Filthy rich people refers to very wealthy individuals and expresses the opposite social image of what the idiom conveys.
- To be dependent on others only focuses on reliance and does not capture the specific idea of income just matching expenses.
- Living in miserable conditions may include extreme poverty, illness or other hardships, but does not specifically reflect the fixed phrase Live from hand to mouth.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse idioms that describe poverty and hardship, treating them as interchangeable. They may also misinterpret the phrase literally, thinking it has something to do with eating habits rather than income. To avoid such errors, it is important to learn idioms with clear definitions and sample sentences. When answering exam questions, always choose the option that captures the core sense of the idiom without adding or changing key elements.


Final Answer:
The idiom Live from hand to mouth means to have enough money to live on and nothing extra.

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