释义 |
struggle-for-lifer slang. [f. the phrase struggle for life (see struggle n. 1 d) + -er1. The word seems to have been first formed in Fr. as struggle-for-lifeur; in this form it was used in Alphonse Daudet's play La Lutte pour la Vie (1889). It had some currency in France (corrupted into strugforlifeur), and has often been used jocularly (occas. in the Fr. form) by English journalists.] One who has a struggle to live; usually, one who is unscrupulous in his efforts to advance himself in the world.
1895Funk's Stand. Dict., Struggle-for-lifer (Slang, Eng.), a struggler for life, as against hopeless poverty. 1899Daily News 11 Jan. 5/4 Some struggle-for-lifers have since carried seats there by sap, mine, and storm. 1905Pall Mall Gaz. 22 Dec. 1 South Africa..will be edified by the manner in which its interests are employed to serve the tactical exigencies of a political ‘struggle-for-lifer’. |