Make [both] ends meet

Posted by Smokey Stover on February 05, 2005

In Reply to: Make [both] ends meet posted by Smokey Stover on February 05, 2005

: : I heard on SaysYou! that the etiology of "make ends meet" involves the corset: making the two sides of the corset come together in back. I can find no confirmation of this meaning (I only can find reference to the financial meaning: having enough income to cover expenses). I need some documentation of the corset meaning.
: : Thanks for any assistance.

: I can't document the corset theory. The OED quotes the phrase: " to make both, two ends, the two ends of the year, meet: to live within one's income [cf. Fr. joindre les deux bouts, les deux bouts de l'an]," but does not give support to the corset theory. The OED cites it from 1884, no corsets mentioned. SS

You might consider looking for an etymology, rather than an etiology. Just a suggestion. SS

• Make [both] ends meet leslie 06/February/05