🐺 Keep the wolf from the door, to
Definition: To ward off starvation or insolvency. This idiom, based on the ravenous trait of wolves, traces back to the sixteenth century and made its early appearance in John Heywood’s Proverbs in 1546. Although it became a full-fledged cliché by around 1800, it’s not as commonly heard today.
Synonyms: Making ends meet, scraping by, surviving, living hand to mouth, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Antonyms: Living in the lap of luxury, minting money, living high on the hog, affluent.
Humor-filled Quote:
“Keeping the wolf from the door is a bit tricky when it insists on using a battering ram!” — Anonymous
Related Proverbs and Expressions:
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
- “One must eat to live, not live to eat.”
- “Living paycheck to paycheck.”
Suggested Literature and Media:
- Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
- Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
- Movie: Pursuit of Happyness starring Will Smith
- Song: “Hard Times Come Again No More” by Stephen Foster
Farewell Thought 💭
Remember, keeping the wolf from the door may be an eternal struggle, but it becomes easier when we learn to dance with the beast. Until the Full Moon of Success!
### Which of these is a genuine idiom?
- [x] Keep the wolf from the door
- [ ] Feed the giraffe at noon
- [ ] Train a porcupine
- [ ] Whistle with the wind
> **Explanation:** "Keep the wolf from the door" is a real idiom referring to fending off poverty or hunger. The others are just flights of fancy.
### What does "keep the wolf from the door" mean?
- [ ] Invite danger into your life
- [x] Ward off hunger or insolvency
- [ ] Adopt a predatory pet
- [ ] Maintain a quiet household
> **Explanation:** "Keep the wolf from the door" means to fend off hunger or financial ruin. Although inviting a wolf would indeed be dangerous!
### True or False: "Keep the wolf from the door" originated in the twentieth century.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. This phrase has been around since the sixteenth century and was included in John Heywood’s *Proverbs* from 1546.
### Synonym for "keep the wolf from the door"?
- [ ] Hosting a feast
- [ ] Wallpapering the den
- [x] Making ends meet
- [ ] Chasing dreams
> **Explanation:** "Making ends meet" is a synonym signifying the act of getting by financially, similar to keeping poverty at bay.
### What animal is referenced in "keep the wolf from the door"?
- [x] Wolf
- [ ] Cat
- [ ] Horse
- [ ] Rabbit
> **Explanation:** The idiom explicitly mentions a "wolf," symbolizing ravenous hunger or danger.
