survival

Idioms (4)

• keep the lights on Neutral · CEFR B2
  to do just enough work to keep a business running, without growth or improvement
• last man standing Neutral · CEFR C1
  the only survivor of a fight, consolidation, or market shakeout
• back against the wall Informal · CEFR B1
  in a desperate situation with few options left
• live paycheck to paycheck Neutral · CEFR B2
  to spend all of each salary before the next one arrives, with no savings