In this idiom question, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the phrase: Make both ends meet.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Live within means

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The idiom make both ends meet is widely used when discussing personal finance and daily life. It refers to the struggle of managing income and expenses so that one does not fall into debt. Exam questions often include this expression because it appears frequently in newspapers and everyday conversations.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: Make both ends meet. - Options: Live within means, Achieve a solution, Live among people, End of the road. - No example sentence is given, so the idiom's meaning must be recalled.


Concept / Approach:
To make both ends meet means to manage on the money one has, so that income covers all necessary expenses. It suggests living within one's means, sometimes with difficulty, but without overspending. It does not refer to solving a problem in general, living socially, or reaching the end of a journey. The focus is specifically on financial balance.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that ends in this idiom represent the two sides of a household budget: income and expenditure. Step 2: Understand that making both ends meet means bringing those sides together so they match. Step 3: Compare this meaning with the options. Step 4: Live within means describes exactly this situation: not spending more than one earns. Step 5: Achieve a solution is too general and does not mention money or expenses. Step 6: Live among people refers to a social situation, not financial management. Step 7: End of the road suggests finality or no options left, which is unrelated to the idiom's financial sense.


Verification / Alternative check:
Think of typical usage: With rising prices, it is difficult for many families to make both ends meet. Replacing this with live within their means retains the idea of struggling to stay within a limited budget. If you try to insert achieve a solution or live among people, the sentence becomes meaningless. This confirms that the idiom refers to financial survival rather than general problem solving or social life.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Achieve a solution is too broad and not anchored in the context of money or expenses. Live among people talks about environment and community, not income versus expenditure. End of the road suggests there are no further possibilities, which is not implied by the idea of managing one's budget.


Common Pitfalls:
Some learners misinterpret make both ends meet literally and think of two physical ends of something, leading them to imagine finishing a journey or ending a process. To avoid this, remember that many idioms are metaphorical and refer to abstract ideas like money, obligations, or relationships. Linking this idiom with budgeting will help you recall its true meaning during exams.


Final Answer:
The idiom Make both ends meet means to Live within one's means.

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