APAD: Keep the wolf from the door

Meaning:

   The proverb "Keep the wolf from the door" means to have enough money to meet

   the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter, and to

   avoid hunger and poverty.

  

Background:

   The origins of the proverb can be traced back to the Middle Ages when wolves

   were a genuine threat to people's livelihood. If a family did not have enough

   food, they might have been forced to sell their land or livestock or suffer

   from hunger. The proverb served as a reminder of the importance of having

   enough resources to survive.

   

   In contemporary usage, the proverb still signifies the struggle to maintain a

   basic standard of living. It can be employed literally to describe someone

   barely affording the essentials, or figuratively to depict someone facing

   difficulties in providing for their family.

   

Examples:

   The proverb is often used in sentences like:

   "The family was struggling to keep the wolf from the door after the father lost his job."

   "I'm working two jobs just to keep the wolf from the door."

   "The government's new policies are designed to help people keep the wolf from the door."

   

   "Keep the wolf from the door" serves as a reminder of the significance of

   financial security and the ongoing challenges faced by those striving to make

   ends meet. It can also act as a motivation to work hard and ensure the

   well-being of one's family.

 

- englishdaily626.com [edited]

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When my old friend Bill was laid off before turning 50, he decided not to go

back, in his words, to work a job he hated to buy the things he didn't need to

impress those he didn't even like. He had piled enough to keep the wolf from

the door, he said, and after so many years it was time to savor freedom and the

blessing it would bring.