noun
/ˈlaɪf/ , pl lives /ˈlaɪvz/
[noncount] :the ability to grow, change, etc., that separates plants and animals from things like water or rocks
the period of time when a person is alive [noncount]
the experience of being alive [noncount]
If your life flashes/passes before your eyes or if your life flashes/passes before you, many memories from different parts of your life quickly appear in your mind one after the other.
[count] a specified part of a person's life
a specified way or manner of living
Your way of life is how you live your life.
[count] :the state or condition of being alive
[noncount] :living things of a specified kind or in a specified place
the time when something can be used :the period when something exists or is useful or effective [noncount]
[noncount] energy and spirit
activity and movement
[count] :a book that tells about the life of a person :biography
[noncount] :the punishment of being kept in a prison for the rest of your life :life imprisonment
a dog's life
a life of its own
Something that takes on a life of its own becomes very large, important, or hard to control.
all walks of life
or every walk of life
a matter of life and death
something that is extremely important and often involves decisions that will determine whether someone lives or dies
a new lease on/of life
(as) big as life
US or chiefly Brit (as) large as life
informal :in person - used to describe the surprise of seeing someone
bet/stake your life on
If you would bet/stake your life on something, you are very sure that it will happen.
breathe (new) life into
to give new energy and excitement to (something)
bring someone or something back to life
to cause someone or something that has died to begin living again
bring something to life
to make something very interesting, appealing, or exciting
come to life
to become very interesting, appealing, or exciting
of a place :to become filled with the energy and excitement of active people
or sputter/roar (etc.) to life of a machine :to begin working
depart this life
for dear life
very tightly or quickly because of fear or danger
for life
for the whole of your life :for the rest of your life
for the life of me
informal :in any way at all - used to say that you are unable to remember or understand something
frighten/scare the life out of
informal :to frighten (someone) very badly
from life
of a painting, drawing, etc. :from looking at an actual person, object, etc.
get a life
informal :to stop spending time doing or thinking about things that are not important or interesting :to begin to have a more interesting or exciting life
larger than life
lay down your life
see lay down at 1lay
life depends on
If your life depends on something, then you must do it.
lose your life
to die
new life
When something takes on (a) new life or when you give something new life or give new life to something, it becomes more active, interesting, etc.
not on your life
informal - used as a very forceful way of saying no or never
risk life and limb
to do something that is very dangerous
save someone's life
spring into/to life
staff of life
such is life
take/claim someone's life
to cause someone's death
take your own life
to kill yourself
the life of the party
US or chiefly Brit the life and soul of the party
someone who is very lively and amusing at a party or other social gathering
the light of your life
the next life
or the life to come
a life that is believed by some people to come after death
the simple life
to save your life
true to life
adjective
always used before a noun
of or relating to life
done as long as a person lives :existing or lasting throughout a person's life
US