• БИТЬСЯ КАК РЫБА ОБ ЛЕД coll
[VP; subj: human]
=====
⇒ to strive in vain to cope with one's low standard of living, work very hard to survive:
- X бьётся как рыба об лед{{}}≈ X struggles to keep his head above water (to keep body and soul together);
- X (barely) ekes out a living;
- X struggles desperately;
- X struggles for survival.
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.