eke

vt. 放长,增加

They eke out a bare existence (ie They scarcely manage) on his low salary.

他们靠他微薄的薪金勉强　口.

In old China workers and peasants could hardly eke out a living, let alone send their children to school.

在旧中国，工人农民连生活都难以维持，更谈不上送子女上学了。