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Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom for dear life, which means to do something with great effort to avoid danger. Find out how to say it in different languages and see examples and related expressions.
Jun 18, 2024 · The meaning of FOR DEAR LIFE is very tightly or quickly because of fear or danger. How to use for dear life in a sentence.
What does the phrase 'for dear life' (for example as in, He ran for dear life) originate from? And when was it first used and became popular?
- The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms dates for dear life to the mid-1800s , although that appears to be too late by a wide margin, as I find...
- A Google Books search turns up instances of the phrase going back to 1749. Interestingly, though the first occurrence is in a polemical discourse a...
- Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life. —Shakespeare (Troilus and Cressida 1602?)
If you say that someone does something for dear life or for their life, you mean that they do it using all their strength and effort because they are in a dangerous or urgent situation.
Learn the meaning and usage of the phrase "for dear life" in English. It means you do something as fast or as well as you can because you are afraid. See examples from the corpus and related expressions.
Jun 29, 2024 · for dear life. When you do something for dear life, you do it as though not doing it would cause you to die. If a kayaker sees a shark in the water, she'll probably start paddling for dear life.
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for dear life in American English. with desperate effort, energy, or speed. We ran for dear life, with the dogs at our heels. Also: for one's life. See full dictionary entry for life. Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC.
