Origin of Phrases - L
Living hand to mouth
Meaning: To be poor, to have difficulty supporting yourself.
Example: Most people who marry young start out living hand to mouth.
Origin: During the Great Depression and other times of economic scarcity, people often did not know when or where the next meal was coming from. In such a case, when you get something in your hand that can be eaten, it goes into the mouth immediately: ergo "hand to mouth."