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.
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]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.