Other elderly people resort to petty theft to increase their meager purchasing power .

一些老人小偷小摸，以增加他们微薄的购买力。

Sooner or later investors will face either a loss of money , or at best meager returns .

投资者迟早会要么亏钱，要么最好也就是获得微薄的回报。

After they reject the government 's compensation as too meager , a dark campaign of harassment ensues .

面对政府给出的少得可怜的补偿，他们拒绝，紧接着就要遭受昏天暗地的骚扰。

He was very good to me gave me some research work to supplement my meager income and invited me to his house for dinner .

他对我非常不错，让我做一些研究工作来贴补我那微薄的收入，他还邀请过我到他家去吃饭。

Now , they live off the meager earnings brought in by the shepherd 's wife , who works as an apartment guard in the building where the family is living .

现在他们靠着这位牧民妻子的一点微薄收入过活，她现在就在一家人住的这座建筑中作公寓保安员。