for dear life
idiom
: very tightly or quickly because of fear or danger
He was hanging/holding on to the rope for dear life.
They were running for dear life to get away from the vicious dogs.
Examples of for dear life in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His team concocted an idea where Tyler would walk vertically up a cliff wall, hang on to a ledge for dear life, then be blown across (and off) the stage by a simulated wind gust.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Yet they have been forced to grab the hind legs of the CFP cash cow and hold on, together, for dear life.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
On life support Here are some bills that are hanging on for dear life and unlikely to pass.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 26 Mar. 2024
The hiker was about 50 to 60 feet below the trail — hanging on for dear life, the video shows.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024
Anyone’s muscles can feel a little cramped after an especially tense workday—maybe from being hunched over a laptop, glued to a rigid chair, standing for hours, or even squeezing a stress ball for dear life.
—Erica Sweeney, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024
Safiya’s mother, while loyal to her father, nonetheless gave Safiya and her siblings the gift of books, including poetry, to which Safiya latched on for dear life.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
Instead of focusing on the terrible weather, said Scott Jones, director of health and well-being at the Treasure Valley YMCA’s Downtown branch, latch onto a goal, and hold on for dear life.
—Maria L. La Ganga, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
The golden age of butchery was brought to an end by the rise of the supermarket, and butchers’ shops have been clinging on for dear life ever since.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 15 Feb. 2024
Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Yet they have been forced to grab the hind legs of the CFP cash cow and hold on, together, for dear life.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
On life support Here are some bills that are hanging on for dear life and unlikely to pass.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 26 Mar. 2024
The hiker was about 50 to 60 feet below the trail — hanging on for dear life, the video shows.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024
Anyone’s muscles can feel a little cramped after an especially tense workday—maybe from being hunched over a laptop, glued to a rigid chair, standing for hours, or even squeezing a stress ball for dear life.
—Erica Sweeney, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024
Safiya’s mother, while loyal to her father, nonetheless gave Safiya and her siblings the gift of books, including poetry, to which Safiya latched on for dear life.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
Instead of focusing on the terrible weather, said Scott Jones, director of health and well-being at the Treasure Valley YMCA’s Downtown branch, latch onto a goal, and hold on for dear life.
—Maria L. La Ganga, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
The golden age of butchery was brought to an end by the rise of the supermarket, and butchers’ shops have been clinging on for dear life ever since.
—Olivia Potts, Longreads, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'for dear life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near for dear life
Cite this Entry
“For dear life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20dear%20life. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share