揭不开锅

tā jiā kuài jiē bu kāi guō le dàn hái zi men dōu hěn è

他家快揭不开锅了，但孩子们都很饿。

He has run out of food, but his children are hungry.

tā men zuó tiān wǎn shang jiù jiē bu kāi guō le

他们昨天晚上就揭不开锅了。

They have run out of food since last night.

jīng jì xià huá zhè me lì hai gōng xīn jiē céng kuài yào jiē bu kāi guō le

经济下滑这么厉害，工薪阶层快要揭不开锅了。

With the economic downturn so severe, the working class can hardly make ends meet.