LIFE

a fact of life
an unpleasant fact or situation which people accept because they cannot change it (not used with the ) She
grew up inNorthern Ireland during the 1970s when violence had become a fact of life.

a new lease of life

An extension or increase in the time in which something or someone can be useful or successful. Primarily
heard in UK.
Our company was given a new lease of life when we partnered with the global corporation.
John's film got a newlease of life when his wealthy grandfather agreed to fund the rest of the production.

be the light of somebody's life

to be the person you love most My daughter is the light of my life.

come to life

1. Lit. to act as if alive after a period of seeming not to be alive.

As the anesthetic wore off, the patient came to life.After CPR, the child came to life.
2. Fig. to become vigorous or lively.
About midnight, the party really came to life. The actors didn't come to life until themiddle of the second act.

depart this life

Euph. to die.
He departed this life on April 20th, 1973. She departed peacefully, in her sleep.

for the life of me

at all; even one little bit. (Used with a negative.) For the life of me, I can't figure this out. I can't for the life of
me climbup a mountain.

give (someone) the fright of (someone's) life

To cause someone an extreme and sudden sensation of shock, surprise, or fear.
I didn't see you standing there! You gave me the fright of my life!
Seeing the car swerve right in front of her gave Mary the fright of her life.
how's life (treating you)?
How are you? How is everything in your life? (Said as an informal greeting.)
Hey, John, great to see you again! How's life treating you? Hi Murray, how's life?

life in the fast lane

an exciting, active style of living that usually involves great wealth When Ashmead decided that life in the fas
t lanewasn't much fun anymore, he turned his attention to another kind of business.

Life's been good (to me).

I am grateful that I am doing well in life. I can't complain. Life's been good to me. I am doing fine. Life's been
good.

live the life of Riley

To lead a life of great ease, comfort, or luxury. The phrase is likely of early 20th-century Irish-
American origin, but to whom Riley refers is uncertain.
Pampered from a young age after his father came into sudden wealth, Jonathan lived the life of Riley
compared to the hardships his older siblings faced.

not on your life

Certainly not, as in Go hang-gliding? Not on your life. The first recorded use of this interjection was in 1896.

Variety is the spice of life.

Prov. Clich You should try many different kinds of experiences, because trying different things keeps life inte
resting.
I know we usually spend our summer vacation camping out, but I think we should try something different
this year. Variety is the spice of life.

a matter of life and death

something that is very important or serious
Don't disturb me unless it's matter of life and death.

a walk of life
a person's walk of life is the type of job they do or the level of society they belong to
Volunteers who work at the animalhospital come from all walks of life. There were people at the meeting
from almost every walk of life.

Give somebody the kiss of life (British & Australian)

to help someone who has stopped breathing to breathe again by blowing into their mouth and pressing their
chest
A doctor who had witnessed the accident gave the victim the kiss of life but failed to revive him.

It's a dog's life.

something that you say which means that life is hard and unpleasant
I've got to go to the supermarket, then cook ameal, then pick Dave up from the station - it's a dog's life!

Life is just a bowl of cherries.

Prov. Everything is going well.; Life is carefree. (Often used ironically, as in the second example.)
The real estate salesman tried to convince us that life in the suburbs is just a bowl of cherries.

Jill: Hi, Jane. How are you?

Jane: Oh,my alarm clock didn't go off this morning, and then my car wouldn't start, and I missed the bus and
got to work late,and I just found out my rent's going up fifty dollars a month. Life is just a bowl of cherries.

Life is too short.

Life is short and there is no point in wasting it on things like worry, hatred, vengeance, etc.
I am not going to spend anymore time trying to get even with Wally. Life's too short.
It's a waste of time worrying about money. Life is too short for that.

You bet your (sweet) life!

Inf. Fig. You can be absolutely certain of something!

Mary: Will I need a coat today?

Bill: You bet your sweet life! It'scolder than an iceberg out there.
Bill: Will you be at the game Saturday?
Tom: You bet your boots!

life is like a box of chocolates

Life is unpredictable. A version of the phrase was popularized in the film Forrest Gump, in which it was
followed by the second line: "You never know what you're gonna get.
I didn't expect to get laid off, but hey, life is like a box ofchocolates.
make life miserable for someone
to give someone misery; to be a great nuisance to someone.
This nagging backache is making life miserable for me. I wish you would stop making life miserable for me.

never in my life
an emphatic expression showing the depth of the speaker's feelings.

Sally: Never in my life have I seen such a mess!

John: Well, it's always this way. Where have you been all this time?
Sally: I just never noticed before, I suppose.

While there's life there's hope. and Where there's life there's hope.

Prov. Clich As long as you are alive, you should be hopeful, because it is possible that your situation will im
prove.
Nancy: What will we do, now that our house and everything we own has burned up?
Bill: While there's life there's hope.

within an inch of one's life

Fig. very close to losing one's life; almost to death.
The accident frightened me within an inch of my life.
When Mary was seriously ill in the hospital, she came within an inch of her life.

the university of life

The informal education one receives by learning from one's experiences, both good and bad, rather than a fo
rmaleducational institution.

My uncle might not have made it past grade school, but he's learned more from the university of life
than most of our professors.
A proper education is indeed important, but do not neglect the lessons you receive from the university of life.