qui vive

noun

kē-ˈvēv

: alert, lookout

—used in the phrase on the qui vive

They lived on the qui vive, always ready for a duel if their honor was in any way impugned.

James Michener

Did you know?

When a sentinel guarding a French castle in days of yore cried, "Qui vive?," your life depended upon your answer. The question the sentinel was asking was "Long live who?" The correct answer was usually something like "Long live the king!" Visitors not answering the question this way were regarded as suspect, and so to be "on the qui vive" meant to be on the alert or lookout, and qui vive came to mean "alert" or "lookout" soon afterward. Nowadays, the term is most often used in the phrase "on the qui vive," meaning "on the lookout."

on the qui vive

phrase

as in alert

paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity The commanding officer ordered the sentries to remain on the qui vive.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

alert
awake
vigilant
on guard
on tiptoe
alive
watchful
aware
attentive
careful
regardful
on the ball
on the alert
cautious
sensitive
observant
Argus-eyed
wary
conscious
tentie
on one's toes
keen
wide-awake
open-eyed
tenty
prepared
mindful
cognizant
sharp
heedful
sleepless
wakeful
hypervigilant
ready
hyperalert
chary
observing
sharp-eyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

asleep
distracted
engrossed
absorbed
absent
preoccupied
abstracted
dreaming
sleeping
unaware
dreamy
oblivious
dazed
unconscious
faraway
careless
insensible
daydreaming
unwitting
unmindful
unprepared
heedless
absentminded
unwary
unthinking
inattentive
unknowing
unheeding
unready

单词	on the qui vive
释义	qui vive noun kē-ˈvēv : alert, lookout —used in the phrase on the qui vive They lived on the qui vive, always ready for a duel if their honor was in any way impugned. James Michener Did you know? When a sentinel guarding a French castle in days of yore cried, "Qui vive?," your life depended upon your answer. The question the sentinel was asking was "Long live who?" The correct answer was usually something like "Long live the king!" Visitors not answering the question this way were regarded as suspect, and so to be "on the qui vive" meant to be on the alert or lookout, and qui vive came to mean "alert" or "lookout" soon afterward. Nowadays, the term is most often used in the phrase "on the qui vive," meaning "on the lookout." Synonyms alert alertness attentiveness red alert vigilance watch watchfulness See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences an army on the qui vive for enemy attack Word History Etymology French qui-vive, from qui vive? long live who?, challenge of a French sentry First Known Use 1726, in the meaning defined above on the qui vive phrase as in alert paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity The commanding officer ordered the sentries to remain on the qui vive. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance alert awake vigilant on guard on tiptoe alive watchful aware attentive careful regardful on the ball on the alert cautious sensitive observant Argus-eyed wary conscious tentie on one's toes keen wide-awake open-eyed tenty prepared mindful cognizant sharp heedful sleepless wakeful hypervigilant ready hyperalert chary observing sharp-eyed Antonyms & Near Antonyms asleep distracted engrossed absorbed absent preoccupied abstracted dreaming sleeping unaware dreamy oblivious dazed unconscious faraway careless insensible daydreaming unwitting unmindful unprepared heedless absentminded unwary unthinking inattentive unknowing unheeding unready See More
随便看	monera monerae moneral moneran monerans moneras monergic monergism monergist monergistic moneric moneron monerons Monerozoa moneseses monesesses monesia monestrous Monet monetarily monetarism monetarisms monetarist monetarists monetary

qui vive

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

phrase