Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith Talk Forums General Topics Q&A about words eke out/ earn for/ strive for
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
I read Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah lately
has here anyhere ever read this book?it's a nice bk
well i'm just questioned by the words from this bk
"Eke out livings" , "Earn for livings"
can we say "strive for livings"?
Hi suededevil, and welcome to the board!
"Eke out a living" means to make very little money, just enough to barely pay the bills, and usually not with a very secure employment. Maybe small jobs here and there.
"Earn a living" implies more of a steady, comfortable employment and income situation. If you "earn a living' you are usually doing okay financially.
"Strive for a living" would seem to imply more of an awkward situation than "eke out a living", since if you're striving for a living you're struggling to achieve a level where you're ekeing out or earning a living. But some folks who have steady work may not consider themselves to be living a solid , comfortable lifestyle on the money they earn, and might say they are striving to earn a real living.
Exactly!
Although "eke out" immediately brings a finacial situation to the table, "strive for" *allows for a different perception. Are all of the contexts "financial" in that book, suededevil?
Well it just mentioned that the women's financial condition was hit at a glimpse
she lost her job and yearned for some money
...hit at a glimpse
That's a new one on me.
Does this mean "you were given a quick review and it didn't look *good"?
...hit at a glimpse
That's a new one on me.
C'est un coup d'oeil, n'est pas?
My favorite usage of "strive" is in Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
C'est un coup d'oeil, n'est pas?
Say what?
Coup d'OEil (French). A view; glance; prospect; effect of things in the mass.
These principles are presented at a single coup d'oeil.
The coup d'oeil was grand in the extreme.
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith Talk