детишкам на молочишко

• ДЕТИШКАМ (РЕБЯТИШКАМ) НА МОЛОЧИШКО заработать, получить, остаться и т.п. coll, humor

[PrepP; these forms only; obj; fixed WO]

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⇒ (to earn, get, be left with etc) a small amount of money:

- a few (a couple of) bucks;

- a little something;

- [in limited contexts](earn enough <try etc>) to make ends meet (to get by).

     ♦ ...От большевиков [офицеры] бежали, к белым не пристали, понемножку жили, спорили о судьбах России, зарабатывали детишкам на молочишко и страстно желали конца войны (Шолохов 4). Having fled from the Bolsheviks without joining the Whites, they [the officers] led a hole-and-corner existence, arguing about Russia's destiny, trying to make ends meet, and wishing only for the war to end (4a).