Meaning of for dear life | Babel Free

Definitions

Desperately.

idiomatic, not-comparable

Equivalents

Examples

“Paolo sat crosslegged on his bench, stitching away for dear life.”

“As they passed, accelerating, on to the bridge and felt the first bite⟳ of the incline beyond, one had a fleeting glimpse of driver and fireman, illumined as by the fires of hell, the one tugging at the regulator handle⟳, the other shovelling for dear life.”

“After 12 successive league wins[…]Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their lead⟳ for dear life.”

“I remember⟳ the heat, the deluge of rain-squalls that kept us baling for dear life (but filled our water cask), and I remember⟳ sixteen hours on end⟳ with a mouth dry as a cinder and a steering oar over the stern to keep⟳ my first command head on to a breaking sea.”

“We want⟳ you to see⟳ that these years can be a rollercoaster ride⟳ where sometimes you have⟳ to hang⟳ on for dear life—but you will come⟳ through it.”

“Each morning you get⟳ in the roller coaster car, strap yourself in, and hold⟳ on for dear life hoping you won't throw⟳ up or pass⟳ out.”

“Then came the collision: it was "like⟳ a rollercoaster ride⟳" and she held onto the table in front of her "for dear life. Then it just stopped and all I could hear⟳ was people screaming."”

CEFR level