borrowed time
noun
: an uncertain and usually uncontrolled postponement of something inevitable
—used with living on
Examples of borrowed time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even borrowed time leaves questions about how Bed Bath & Beyond might ascertain a strategy to turn its core business around.
—
Lauren Hirsch, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
What Ratcliffe, and other white gays like him, fail to realize is that assimilation is not acceptance; it is merely borrowed time.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 13 Apr. 2021
The outdoor shows have not been particularly well-attended, and Gas Monkey Bar may be on borrowed time.
—Jeremy Hallock, Dallas News, 26 May 2020
Even before the pandemic struck the acceleration of cord cutting has fueled questions about whether or not the traditional TV business is essentially living on borrowed time.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 May 2020
In Season 4, Alfred (David Dawson) is living on borrowed time, and his vision for a unified England seems further away than ever.
—Sara Aridi, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2020
When police raided the Limelight in the fall of 1995, his empire was living on borrowed time.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020
Billings, Montana — John Raines, 49, is living on borrowed time.
—Steve Hartman, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2020
The oldest had been apparently living on borrowed time as the life expectancy of these nomadic Scythian fighting females was 30-35, according to a press release.
—Fox News, 9 Jan. 2020
Lauren Hirsch, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
What Ratcliffe, and other white gays like him, fail to realize is that assimilation is not acceptance; it is merely borrowed time.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 13 Apr. 2021
The outdoor shows have not been particularly well-attended, and Gas Monkey Bar may be on borrowed time.
—Jeremy Hallock, Dallas News, 26 May 2020
Even before the pandemic struck the acceleration of cord cutting has fueled questions about whether or not the traditional TV business is essentially living on borrowed time.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 May 2020
In Season 4, Alfred (David Dawson) is living on borrowed time, and his vision for a unified England seems further away than ever.
—Sara Aridi, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2020
When police raided the Limelight in the fall of 1995, his empire was living on borrowed time.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2020
Billings, Montana — John Raines, 49, is living on borrowed time.
—Steve Hartman, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2020
The oldest had been apparently living on borrowed time as the life expectancy of these nomadic Scythian fighting females was 30-35, according to a press release.
—Fox News, 9 Jan. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'borrowed time.' 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 borrowed time
Cite this Entry
“Borrowed time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borrowed%20time. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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