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.

所有跟帖: 

Kodus 2 Bill! learned & it reminds me of LittleRedRidingHood -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 08:25:06

who wasEaten by theWolf &saved by theHuntsman~~ Thx4Sharing -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 08:29:01

Indeed. Who knows but the story & proverb might be related! -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 08:45:10

Thanks! Make ends meet? -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 08:49:11

NP! Sure and not by burning the candle at both ends, I hope. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 08:58:45

Ha,myMom wasBad@it that she needed 2 borrow X元from Uni互助会 -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 09:09:32

@each month end when Dad was sent away 2 countryside -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 09:12:39

忆苦思甜. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 09:31:48

According to Jung Chang “recalling bitterness and reflecting -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 11:38:28

on happiness:-) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 11:38:57

I established a life style when I could just KTWFTDr -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 09:35:26

Now I stick to it, not just from but far away from the door -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 09:36:36

sameHere by livingSimply& hold enough cash+GIC 4 marketCrash -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 10:04:56

Keep up the good work! -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 10:05:27

Ha,突然想起最近文城泛滥成灾的杀猪私信(I got 1 2), hope they spare MYSJ ;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 10:24:46

What has 杀猪 got to do with it? :-)) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 11:40:35

IMHO, a pig butchering scammer’s trickier &worse than a wolf -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 12:51:22

by luring people w/ lies & fake promises 4 their own gains~~ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 12:54:49

Good for Bill, who can KWFD at late 40s. I‘m getting there:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 08/27/2025 postreply 14:42:29

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