He told us how he had been asking God for just the right wife, because he thought he could see a way for the next generation to escape the hand-to-mouth existence of the tenant farmer.

他告诉我们他如何一直祈求上帝赐给他一个理想的妻子，因为他认为他看得见一种办法，可让下一代摆脱伯农只能勉强维持生计的命运。

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Unloved and uncared-for, they live a meaningless hand to mouth existence.

没人疼爱也没人照顾，他们过着一种毫无意义、勉强糊口的日子。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

In chess, although many would-be professionals lead a hand-to-mouth existence, the very top players can become millionaires.

ECONOMIST: Mind games

They live in near-constant silence, stoically bearing the drudgery of their hand-to-mouth existence.

NEWYORKER: Turin Horse, The

Instead, opportunities for jobs and advancement remain close to zero, and the vast majority of people continue to live a hand-to-mouth existence by American standards.

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