life
noun /laɪf/
/laɪf/
(plural lives
Idioms /laɪvz/
/laɪvz/
)- [uncountable] the ability to breathe, grow, produce young, etc. that people, animals and plants have before they die and that objects do not have
- This could mean the difference between life and death.
- The body was cold and showed no signs of life.
- I wish we could bring dinosaurs back to life.
- In spring the countryside bursts into life.
Extra Examples- The driver showed no signs of life.
- She clung to life for several weeks.
- Anti-abortionists say they are campaigning for the right to life.
- a child bursting with life
- It's April and the garden is burgeoning with life.
- I could almost see the life draining from his body.
- Dr Frankenstein was able to endow his creature with life.
- These two-dimensional figures are somehow given life.
- He creates wonderful puppets, brimming with life.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- eternal
- everlasting
- past
- …
- lose
- bring somebody back to
- restore somebody to
- …
- be lost
- assurance
- insurance
- jacket
- …
- an attempt on somebody’s life
- in fear for your life
- in fear of your life
- …
- [uncountable, countable] the state of being alive as a human; an individual person’s existence
- The floods caused a massive loss of life (= many people were killed).
- All risk to human life should be avoided.
- He risked his life to save his daughter from the fire.
- The operation saved her life.
- My grandfather lost his life (= was killed) in the war.
- The bombing claimed the lives of (= killed) thousands of people.
- Hundreds of lives were threatened when the building collapsed.
- Attempts have been made on his life (= people have tried to kill him).
Extra Examples- He said the men had threatened his life.
- People's lives are in danger because of this disease.
- You've put lives in danger through your carelessness.
- You've endangered lives through your carelessness.
- a drug that will save lives
- He saved her life by pulling her out of the water.
- She went back into the building at the risk of her own life.
- Tackle the fire if there is no threat to your life.
- You'll do anything if your life is on the line.
- Witnesses are living in fear for their life after giving evidence against the gang.
- Fearing for their lives, they ran away.
- He lost his life in an air crash.
- Is it ever justifiable to take a life?
- I owe my life to the doctors at the hospital.
- I owe him my life.
- No lives were lost in the accident.
- She begged the soldiers to spare her son's life.
- The crash claimed 43 lives.
- She risked her life for the sake of the children.
- The plane crashed with heavy loss of life.
- There have been three attempts on the president's life.
- His foolishness almost cost him his life.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- eternal
- everlasting
- past
- …
- lose
- bring somebody back to
- restore somebody to
- …
- be lost
- assurance
- insurance
- jacket
- …
- an attempt on somebody’s life
- in fear for your life
- in fear of your life
- …
- [uncountable] living things
- plant/animal/insect life
- Plastic is a threat to marine life.
- Nuclear war could mean the end of life on earth.
- Is there intelligent life on other planets?
- There was no sign of life in the abandoned village.
Extra Examples- All forms of life are to be found in this forest.
- More species of plant and animal life die out as their very specialized habitat is disturbed.
- Algae can pose a danger to pond life.
- The area has a rich and complex plant life.
- The world's oceans are teeming with life.
- In spring, the hedgerows buzz with life.
- The hedgerow supports a wide variety of animal and bird life.
- Loss of habitat is a major threat to insect life.
- Pollution is harming bird life in our cities.
- Climate change will affect all life on earth.
- Is there life on Mars?
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimals- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- intelligent
- animal
- bird
- …
- form
- cycle
- sciences
- …
- [countable, uncountable] the period between somebody’s birth and their death; a part of this period
- He's lived here all his life.
- I've lived in England for most of my life.
- somebody's whole/entire life
- We have known each other our whole lives.
- He will spend the rest of his life (= until he dies) in a wheelchair.
- to have a long/short life
- to devote/dedicate your life to something
- in somebody's life She's had some interesting experiences in her life.
- I've never in my entire life been so embarrassed.
- in early/later life
- Brenda took up tennis late in life.
- A baby's weight will normally double in the first five months of life.
- throughout somebody's life Throughout her life she was dogged by loneliness.
- during somebody's life She had three marriages during her 89-year life.
- for life There's no such thing as a job for life any longer.
- She stayed there until the end of her life.
- He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Extra Examples- Experiences in early life can have a great impact.
- Bad posture is one of the causes of back pain in later life.
- This usually happens during the first 24 to 36 hours of life.
- for the first time in her life
- He'll be haunted by the crash for the rest of his life.
- She discovered jazz quite late in life.
- I've known her all my life.
- He built his whole life around his children.
- I've been wanting to do this my whole life.
- I've never seen so much food in my entire life.
- He devoted his life to the education of deaf children.
- She dedicated her whole life to this cause.
- He ended his life a happy man.
- He never let his work dominate his life.
- He ruined his life through drinking.
- He spent his whole life in Cornwall.
- They cannot cure her, but they can prolong her life.
- Her paintings became more obscure towards the end of her life.
- He became very weak towards the end of his life.
- In later life he took up writing.
- She sensed she was entering a new phase in her life.
- I think I may have been an animal in a previous life.
- They became friends for life.
- A monarch normally rules for life.
- That experience put me off alcohol for life!
- She thought marriage should be for life.
- There has only been one woman in her life.
- He met the love of his life at college.
- She is a life member of the club.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- entire
- …
- go through
- live
- spend
- …
- history
- story
- membership
- …
- for life
- in your life
- throughout your life
- …
- all your life
- at somebody’s time of life
- the end of your life
- …
- [countable] a period of somebody’s life when they are in a particular situation or job
- She has been an accountant all her working life.
- He spent his entire adult life in France.
- throughout somebody's life They were very happy throughout their married life.
- during somebody's life During his 13-year life in Britain he has never worked.
- life as something He met a lot of interesting people during his life as a student.
Extra Examples- He was a miner all his working life.
- She began her working life as an architect.
- Last July I began my post-college life.
- She spent most of her working life in Strasbourg.
- They spent their working lives as farm labourers.
- I enjoyed the freedom I had during my single life.
- During my professional life I had to deal with many different types of people.
- He held several advisory posts during his academic life.
- It was the high point of her sporting life.
- It was the most difficult experience of my life as a teacher.
- Soon I will begin my life as a parent.
- She had some interesting stories about her life as a musician.
- He lived in Paris for most of his life as a painter.
- I've enjoyed our life together.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- short
- entire
- …
- go through
- live
- spend
- …
- history
- story
- membership
- …
- for life
- in your life
- throughout your life
- …
- all your life
- at somebody’s time of life
- the end of your life
- …
- [countable] the period of time when something exists or functions
- In Italy the average life of a government is eleven months.
- There are a few things you can do to extend the life of your carpet.
- These machines have a limited life (= they do not function well for very long).
- These smaller, lighter phones tend to have a shorter battery life.
- life as something The International Stock Exchange started life as a coffee shop.
- The building will now have a new life as a museum.
Extra Examples- The hotel began life as a prison.
- The magazine started life as a comic book in 1952.
- By expanding your computer's storage you extend its useful life.
- Refrigeration can extend the life of food products.
- My new phone battery has a much longer life than the old one.
- A steady temperature will help lengthen the life of the battery.
- They could see that the company had a limited life (= it was going to close).
- Publicity has a very short life, so make the most of it while you're in the news.
- [uncountable] the experience and activities that are typical of all people’s existences
- the worries of everyday life
- Commuting is a part of daily life for many people.
- Trees and green spaces enhance our quality of life.
- He is young and has little experience of life.
- Jill wants to travel and see life for herself.
- We have no time just to enjoy life.
- Life can be hard.
- We bought a dishwasher to make life easier.
- Life isn't like in the movies, you know.
- in life It's important to have a purpose in life.
- In real life (= when she met him) he wasn't how she had imagined him at all.
- life without something Can you imagine life without music?
- You can share life events like getting married or becoming a parent.
- He just needs a little more life experience.
Extra Examples- Disappointment is part of normal life.
- I wanted to see something of life before I settled down.
- Eventually you adjust to life without your loved one.
- Life with a baby is exhausting but wonderful.
- I can't imagine life without work.
- What would life be like if we didn't have the internet?
- the brutal reality of life on the streets
- His time in London was his first glimpse of the seamier side of life.
- He always had a great love of life.
- Technology has transformed every aspect of life.
- Sometimes in life you have to make compromises.
- Keeping busy helps you stay positive in life.
- They accepted that it was their role in life to serve others.
- She went through life always wanting what she couldn't get.
- He always believed in living life to the full.
- I've always had a fairly optimistic outlook on life.
- They both seem to want the same things out of life.
- Moving house is one of the most stressful life events there is.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- daily
- day-to-day
- everyday
- …
- build
- rebuild
- be complicated
- be unfair
- be precious
- …
- an attitude to life
- an outlook on life
- a philosophy of life
- …
- [uncountable, countable] the activities and experiences that are typical of a particular way of living
- We just want a normal family life.
- Technology is part of modern life.
- She enjoyed political life.
- His fame was so sudden that he was unprepared for public life.
- country/city/island life
- How do you find life in Japan?
- He eventually got used to life in prison.
Extra Examples- Arguments are part of married life.
- Island life has its own rhythms.
- A child will take time to adjust to school life.
- Communication is vital to the economic life of a country.
- He finds city life very stressful.
- Transport problems are part of life in the countryside.
- Have you ever experienced life in a small town?
- He had only ever known life in an institution.
- the frenetic pace of modern life
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- daily
- day-to-day
- everyday
- …
- build
- rebuild
- be complicated
- be unfair
- be precious
- …
- an attitude to life
- an outlook on life
- a philosophy of life
- …
- [countable] a person’s experiences during their life; the activities that form a particular part of a person’s life
- to have/live/lead a… life
- He has had a good life.
- She lived a quiet life in the countryside.
- Many of these children have led very sheltered lives (= they have not had many different experiences).
- a hard/an easy life
- Her daily life involved meeting lots of people.
- My day-to-day life is not very exciting.
- Meeting Penny changed my life.
- to affect/improve somebody's life
- They emigrated to start a new life in Canada.
- He doesn't like to talk about his private life.
- She has a full social life.
- a life of something They lead a life of luxury.
- in somebody's life I don't want people like that in my life.
Extra Examples- He has had a hard life.
- She led a life of luxury.
- He led a life of great hardship.
- They live a life of toil.
- They went to Australia to start a new life.
- They're living a life of luxury in the Bahamas.
- My life would be nothing without you.
- Education has always been an important part of my life.
- I find a positive attitude helps in every aspect of my life.
- We all encounter challenges in our lives.
- These are issues that affect our lives.
- Meeting you has changed my life.
- Learning meditation changed her life.
- There are some discoveries that change lives.
- We have the power to improve the lives of all Americans.
- Architecture has the potential to transform human lives.
- They moved here in search of a better life.
- She leads a busy social life.
- She did not tolerate press intrusion into her private life.
- She is still rebuilding her life after the accident.
- He never discussed the unhappiness of his past life.
- Only his wife had access to his inner life.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fulfilling
- good
- great
- …
- have
- lead
- live
- …
- build a new life
- make a new life
- start a new life
- …
- [uncountable] the quality of being active and exciting synonym vitality
- This is a great holiday resort that is full of life.
- We need to inject some new life into this project.
Extra Examples- The market is bustling with life.
- The streets are crowded and full of life.
- They hope the new bars and restaurants will bring some life to an area normally dead after 8pm.
- Let's put some life into this party!
- The introduction of her character gives the movie a bit more life.
- The city has started to have much more life, with new parks and shopping precincts.
- She has brought new life to the team.
- When she left it was as if all the life went out of the house.
- All the life seemed to have gone out of the movement.
- I love the energy and life of the city.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + life- come to
- breathe
- bring something to
- …
- breathe new life into somebody/something
- full of life
- [uncountable] the punishment of being sent to prison for life or a very long period of time; life imprisonment
- The judge gave him life.
- She is doing life for murder.
- [uncountable] a living model or a real object or scene that people draw or paint
- She had lessons in drawing from life.
- a life class (= one in which art students draw a naked man or woman)
- [countable] a story of somebody’s life synonym biography
- She wrote a life of Mozart.
- [countable] (in children's games or computer games) one of a set number of chances before a player is out of a game
- He's lost two lives, so he's only got one left.
state of living
living things
period of time
experience/activities
energy/excitement
punishment
in art
story of life
in games
Word OriginOld English līf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lijf, German Leib ‘body’, also to live1.
Idioms
at my, your, his, etc. time of life
- at the age you are (especially when you are not young)
- Eyesight doesn't get any better at my time of life.
be somebody’s life
- be the most important person or thing to somebody
- My children are my life.
- Writing is his life.
breathe (new) life into something
- to improve something by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it
- The results of their research have breathed new life into the debate.
Extra Examples- He hopes the development will breathe new life into the community.
- They need some new, younger staff to breathe some life into the company.
the breath of life to/for somebody
- (literary) an essential part of a person’s existence
- Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years.
bring somebody/something to life
- to make somebody/something more interesting or exciting
- The new teacher really brought French to life for us.
- Flowers can bring a dull room back to life.
come to life
- to become more interesting, exciting or full of activity
- The match finally came to life in the second half.
- The city only comes to life at night.
- to start to act or move as if alive
- In my dream all my toys came to life.
depart this life
- to die. People say ‘depart this life’ to avoid saying ‘die’.Topics Life stagesc2
a dog’s life
- an unhappy life, full of problems or unfair treatment
- He led poor Amy a dog’s life. She was desperately lonely, poor dear.
end your days/life (in something)
- to spend the last part of your life in a particular state or place
- He ended his days in poverty.
a fact of life
- a situation that cannot be changed, especially one that is unpleasant
- Illness is just a fact of life.
- It’s a fact of life that some people will always be racist.
Extra Examples- a rather harsh fact of life
- It's a fact of life that you don't get anything for nothing.
- It is an sad fact of life that the most deserving people do not often achieve the most success.
the facts of life
- the details about sex and about how babies are born, especially as told to children
fight for (your) life
- to make a great effort to stay alive, especially when you are badly injured or seriously ill
- A young cyclist is fighting for his life after the accident.
for dear life | for your life
- as hard or as fast as possible
- She was holding on to the rope for dear life.
- Run for your life!
for the life of you
- (informal) however hard you try
- I cannot for the life of me imagine why they want to leave.
frighten/scare the life out of somebody
- (informal) to frighten somebody very much
- You scared the life out of me coming in so suddenly like that.
full of beans/life
- having a lot of energy
- It's nice to see an old man still so full of life.
get a life
- (informal) used to tell somebody to stop being boring and to do something more interesting
- Do us all a favour… get a life!
hang/hold on for dear life (North American English, British English)
(also hang/hold on for/like grim death British English)
- (informal) to hold somebody/something very tightly because you are afraid
have nine lives
- (especially of a cat) to be very lucky in dangerous situations
have the time of your life
- (informal) to enjoy yourself very much
in fear of your life
- feeling frightened that you might be killedTopics Feelingsc2
the kiss of life
- (British English) a method of helping somebody who has stopped breathing to breathe again by placing your mouth on theirs and forcing air into their lungs
(as) large as life
- (humorous) used to show surprise at seeing somebody/something
- I hadn’t seen her for fifteen years and then there she was, (as) large as life.
larger than life
- looking or behaving in a way that is more interesting or exciting than other people, and so is likely to attract attention synonym flamboyant
- He's a larger than life character.
lay down your life (for somebody/something)
- (literary) to die in order to save somebody/something synonym sacrifice
- They were prepared to lay down their lives for their country.
lead/live the life of Riley
- (old-fashioned, informal, often disapproving) to live a happy and comfortable life with no problems or responsibilities
- The two crooks had been living the life of Riley.
- He planned to retire early and then lead the life of Riley.
a (new) lease of life (British English)
(North American English a (new) lease on life)
- the chance to live or last longer, or with a better quality of life
- Since her hip operation she's had a new lease of life.
life after death
- the possibility or belief that people continue to exist in some form after they die
- Do you believe in life after death?
the life and soul of the party, etc.
- (British English) the liveliest and funniest person at a party, etc.
life is cheap
- (disapproving) used to say that there is a situation in which it is not thought to be important if people somewhere die or are treated badly
(have) a life of its own
- (of an object) seeming to move or function by itself without a person touching or working it
life’s too short
- (informal) used to say that it is not worth wasting time doing something that you dislike or that is not important
- Life's too short to sit around moping.
the light of somebody’s life
- the person somebody loves more than any other
make life difficult (for somebody)
- to cause problems for somebody
- She does everything she can to make life difficult for him.
make somebody’s life a misery
- to behave in a way that makes somebody else feel very unhappy
- My old boss used to make my life a misery.
- His constant criticism made her life a misery.
the man/woman in your life
- (informal) the man or woman that you are having a sexual or romantic relationship with
- Anna has a new man in her life.
a matter of life and/or death
- used to describe a situation that is very important or serious
- You mustn't let anyone know— it's a matter of life and death.
- These talks are a matter of life or death for the factory.
not be able to do something to save your life
- (informal) to be completely unable to do something
- He can't interview people to save his life.
not on your life
- (informal) used to say that you will definitely not do something
risk life and limb
(also risk your neck)
- to risk being killed or injured in order to do something
- She risked life and limb to save her children from the fire.
More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane
a slice of life
- a film, play or book that gives a very realistic view of ordinary life
- This drama provides a slice of life in 1950s Connecticut.
spring into action | spring into/to life
- (of a person, machine, etc.) to suddenly start working or doing something
- ‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action.
- The town springs to life (= becomes busy) during the carnival.
the staff of life
- (literary) a basic food, especially bread
take somebody’s life
- to kill somebody
take your (own) life
- to kill yourself
- She took her own life.
take your life in your hands
- to risk being killed
- You take your life in your hands just crossing the road here.
that’s life
- (informal) used when you are disappointed about something but know that you must accept it
- It’s a shame I can’t go on the trip, but that’s life.
that’s the story of my life
- (informal) when you say that’s the story of my life about a bad experience you have had, you mean you have had many similar experiences
- Another missed opportunity—that’s the story of my life!
- Out of work with no money—that's the story of my life.
true to life
- (of a book, film, etc.) seeming real rather than invented
- I don’t think the characters are very true to life.
variety is the spice of life
- (saying) having a range of different experiences makes life more interesting
a walk of life
- a person’s job or position in society synonym background
- She has friends from all walks of life.
a/the/somebody’s way of life
- the typical pattern of behaviour of a person or group
- the American way of life
- She loved the Spanish way of life and immediately felt at home there.
- the beliefs and practices of the Hindu way of life
where there’s life (, there’s hope)
- (saying) in a bad situation you must not give up hope because there is always a chance that it will improve
you can bet your life/your bottom dollar (on something/(that)…)
- (informal) used to say that you are certain that something will happen
- You can bet your life that he'll be late.