[keep] body and soul together
1
to be capable of providing for one's most essential needs
The origin of the phrase "keep body and soul together" can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have been inspired by the idea that "body" and "soul" represent the physical and spiritual aspects of a person, respectively. This idiom is used to describe the act of surviving or maintaining one's existence, especially under challenging circumstances.
- After losing everything, she wonders how she will keep body and soul together in the coming months.
- Despite the hardships, she's managing to keep body and soul together by working multiple jobs.
- When he was unemployed, it was challenging for him to keep body and soul together, but he eventually found a job.
- With the current economic situation, he's doing whatever job he can to keep body and soul together.