Etymology Journal ยท K
Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning
- To have just enough money or resources to avoid starvation or extreme poverty. It describes a state of basic survival.
Grim, realistic
Used in a sentence
- The extra shifts at the diner help keep the wolf from the door.
- He took a second job just to keep the wolf from the door.
- They struggled for years to keep the wolf from the door.
The backstory
This phrase dates back to the 16th century. It metaphorically refers to a wolf, a common symbol of hunger and danger, trying to break into a house.
Heard in
Nationwide
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