That forced peasant farmers to try to eke a living off steep hillsides . [+ off]

那迫使农民们努力在陡峭的山坡上勉强维持生计。

He ekes out a living with a market stall.

他靠摆摊勉强糊口。

He was eking out an existence on a few francs a day.

他每天就靠几法郎勉强度日。