Question:
Despite losing his job, he managed to ______by doing small freelance projects.
Despite losing his job, he managed to ______by doing small freelance projects.
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To "eke out" something means to add to it or stretch it out carefully. Think of stretching your last bit of savings or making small earnings last as long as possible!
Updated On: May 19, 2026
- white elephant
- eke out a living
- at sixes and sevens
- Fabian policy
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This sentence requires filling in the blank with an appropriate English idiom that aligns with the context of financial survival. The subject has lost his primary job but is performing small, temporary tasks to sustain himself. The chosen phrase must mean making just enough money to survive or get by with difficulty.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the meanings of all the idiomatic choices: White elephant: A possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain. This does not fit the context of earning money. Eke out a living (Correct): To earn just enough money to survive or buy life's necessities, usually with great effort or by supplementing income through small tasks. This perfectly completes the sentence structure logically and grammatically. At sixes and sevens: A state of total confusion or disarray. It does not fit the blank as a verb phrase. Fabian policy: A policy of cautious delay or avoiding direct confrontation. This is entirely irrelevant to financial survival. Therefore, "eke out a living" is the only option that logically explains how he survived financially after losing his job.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct idiomatic phrase to fill the blank is option (b).
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