Speakeasy

For dear life

There are many idioms and expressions in English that have the word life in them. This week we�re taking a look at some examples. Read the conversations between Dao and Dum with a friend and determine the correct definition of the underlined words. Try practising these idioms in your own conversations.

Photograph courtesy of the Bangkok Post

Conversation 1

Dao: Are you sure this is a good idea?

Dum: Of course I�m sure. Rafting is exciting. You�ll love it.

Dao: I�m scared. The rapids look pretty dangerous and there are so many rocks.

Dum: Don�t worry. Just hold on for dear life and you�ll be OK.

Conversation 2

Dum: Can you do me a favour? Can you set me up with your friend Gip?

Dao: Not on your life! Her boyfriend will kill me.

Dum: She�s got a boyfriend?

Dao: Where have you been? They�ve been dating for the past year now.

Conversation 3

Dum: Run for your life!

Dao: What�s all the commotion?

Dum: Hurry! The river has burst its bank and water�s rushing in.

Dao: Let�s get outta here.

Conversation 4

Dao: Sherry is dating Man.

Dum: Really? I can�t for the life of me see what she sees in him.

Dao: Isn�t love strange?

Definitions

a. Tell someone that you will certainly not do something.

b. As hard or as fast as possible.

c. Emphasise that you cannot remember or understand something at all.

Vocabulary

rapids (n): part of a river where the water flows very fast, usually over rocks
commotion (n): sudden noisy confusion or excitement
burst (v): to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside
bank (n): the side of a river, canal, etc. and the land near it
outta (informal): out of