Р378
БИТЬСЯ КАК РЫБА ОБ ЛЁД
collVPsubj:
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 livingX struggles desperatelyX struggles for survival.