Possible Clues:

• __ out a living (just manage)
• ___ out a living (barely survive)
• Barely get by (with ''out'')
• Supplement (with "out")
• Squeeze (out), as a narrow victory
• Have this out to make it last
• Get with great effort (with "out")
• __ out: barely manage
• Monogram of Duke Ellington
• Struggle to make, with "out"