eke out

supplement what is thought to be deficient; "He eked out his meager pay by giving private lessons"; "Braque eked out his collages with charcoal"

live from day to day, as with some hardship; "He eked out his years in great poverty"

make by laborious and precarious means; "He eked out a living as a painter"

obtain with difficulty; "He eked out some information from the archives"