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 .
