life-savev.
/ˈlʌɪfseɪv/, U.S. /ˈlaɪfˌseɪv/ transitive. To rescue (a person, etc.) from death, esp. from death by drowning; to act towards as a lifesaver. Also in extended use and intransitive.
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the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > rescue or deliver (from) [verb (transitive)] > rescue from drowning
life-save1938
the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > afford deliverance [verb (intransitive)] > rescue from drowning
life-save1973
1938 ‘J. Bell’ Port of London Murders x. 180 You mind what you're about. I'm not going to life-save you a second time.
1968 P. Dickinson Weathermonger i. 11 Geoffrey thought he might possibly be able to swim round to the harbour... But he couldn't do it if he had to lifesave Sally all the way.
1973 ‘M. Hebden’ Dark Side of Island iii. 32 Can you life-save?.. Are you a good swimmer?
1996 P. Godwin Mukiwa (1997) v. 83 I manoeuvred her into the correct position to life-save her. But she was much, much heavier than a tin plate, which was the only thing I'd actually life-saved before.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.1938- to get on one's feet
- to get on one's hind legs
- to get on one's legs
- to get on one's wick
- to get on or get out
- to get on quince
- to get on terms
- to get on the back foot
- to get on the bad side of a person
- to get on the ball
- to get on the finger ends
- to get on the good side of a person
- to get on the nosebag
- to get on the raw
- to get on the right side of someone
- to get on the run
- to get on the wrong side of a person
- to get on to
- to get on top of a person
- to go all round the houses
- to go all the the whole way
- to go all the the whole way with
- to go all the way
- to go all the way with
- to go all to pieces