for dear life | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Desperately.Synonym:for life1896,Jacob A. Riis,Out of Mulberry Street: Stories of Tenement Life in New York City, published1970,→ISBN:Paolo sat crosslegged on his bench, stitching awayfor dear life.1953December, Henry Maxwell, “The Folkestone Harbour Branch: Some Evocations”, inRailway Magazine, page809:As they passed, accelerating, on to the bridge and felt the first bite of the incline beyond, one had a fleeting glimpse of driver and fireman, illumined as by the fires of hell, the one tugging at the regulator handle, the other shovellingfor dear life.2000March 12, Stuart Barnes, “Swindon stunner for Curbishley”, inThe Guardian‎[1],→ISSN:After 12 successive league wins[…]Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their leadfor dear life.2005, Mary Jane McKinney,Grammardog Guide to Conrad Short Stories,→ISBN, page27:I remember the heat, the deluge of rain-squalls that kept us balingfor dear life(but filled our water cask), and I remember sixteen hours on end with a mouth dry as a cinder and a steering oar over the stern to keep my first command head on to a breaking sea.2012, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen,Chicken Soup for the Girl's Soul,→ISBN:We want you to see that these years can be a rollercoaster ride where sometimes you have to hang onfor dear life—but you will come through it.2014, Jillian Carmichael,Middle School Crazy,→ISBN, page 1:Each morning you get in the roller coaster car, strap yourself in, and hold onfor dear lifehoping you won't throw up or pass out.2021February 24, Greg Morse, “Great Heck: a tragic chain of events”, inRAIL, number925, page39:Then came the collision: it was "like a rollercoaster ride" and she held onto the table in front of her "for dear life. Then it just stopped and all I could hear was people screaming."

Examples:

EN: All that, when all I can do Is hang on for dear life. Well, I've got some very Interesting blisters.
ES: Pues yo lo único que puedo hacer es agarrarme con todas mis fuerzas.
EN: Holding on to it for dear life.
ES: Me agarro a ella como a la vida.
EN: No, two's the right number, and you hold on to them for dear life.
ES: No, dos es un buen número, y uno se aferra a ellas como a su vida.
EN: This usually hangs on for dear life to a necklace of 20 flawless 14-carat diamonds.
ES: Es de un collar de 20 diamantes de 14 quilates cada uno.
EN: To Newgate, Goody, and drive for dear life!
ES: ¡A Newgate! ¡Como si fuera por tu vida!
EN: When you cut the connection, you snap the air tube I'm holding onto for dear life.
ES: Cuando cortas la conexión, rompes el tubo de aire al que me estoy agarrando para salvar mi vida.
EN: Here we are, two guys clinging together for dear life... and we don't know a single thing about each other.
ES: Somos dos hombres aferrándonos a la vida... y no sabemos nada el uno del otro.
EN: Gale winds forced me to hang on to the rail for dear life until I could hold on no longer!
ES: Vientos huracanados me obligaron a tomarme de la baranda ¡hasta que no pude asirme más!
EN: She's hanging on for dear life.
ES: Ella lo colgará para buscar una vida mejor.
EN: Yes, my boy, you dont walk so sure-footed anymore. Now you have to clutch something, hold on tight, with all the teeth and fingers youve got, hanging on for dear life, so as not to be thrown off.
ES: Bueno, amigo mío, ahora ya no pisas con tanta seguridad, ahora tienes que aferrarte a algo con fuerza, con todos tus dedos y todos tus dientes, y agarrarte bien para no caerte.
EN: As soon as he smells danger, he takes his courage in both feet and runs for dear life.
ES: - Elie es un bravucón. Tan pronto huele el peligro... desaparece su valentía y corre por su preciada vida.
EN: Running for dear life.
ES: Correr por la vida querida.
EN: You have to hang on for dear life and pray you'll make it one day.
ES: Tienes que esperar mucho y rogar que llegue el gran salto.
EN: I had to hold on for dear life.
ES: Tienes que aferrarte a la vida.
EN: That boy is hanging on for dear life.
ES: El valiente joven se agarra fuerte.

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