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
Next morning, Irvine’s neighbor watched as houses floated by, and people clung to them for dear life.
—
Robert B. Tucker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
That makes a pit to hell open up in the living room, leaving Gabbie hanging on for dear life.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
And yet, after all the breakdowns and back-breaking missteps, there was still a sliver of hope with USC wedged against the goal line, its Big Ten hopes hanging on for dear life.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
One of the most iconic spots of Michaels vs. Undertaker during the original Hell in a Cell saw Shawn Michaels fall from the top of the cell through a table while trying to hold onto the top of the cage for dear life.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for for dear life 
Robert B. Tucker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
That makes a pit to hell open up in the living room, leaving Gabbie hanging on for dear life.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
And yet, after all the breakdowns and back-breaking missteps, there was still a sliver of hope with USC wedged against the goal line, its Big Ten hopes hanging on for dear life.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024
One of the most iconic spots of Michaels vs. Undertaker during the original Hell in a Cell saw Shawn Michaels fall from the top of the cell through a table while trying to hold onto the top of the cage for dear life.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for for dear life
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 31 Oct. 2024.
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