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Glite Dictionary
days are numbered

days are numbered

22 7.4
A person or thing not likely to last much longer because of a serious problem
  • idiom
  • Informal
: sus días están contados
  • Let me tell you something, your days are numbered.
  • know your days are numbered
  • think his days are numbered
  • said your days are numbered

But post Malone's days are numbered, it looks like to me.

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Examples

  • He was an outlaw, and he knew his days were numbered.

    In the Blood (2014)

  • When I came along and obviously knew what I was doing, they knew their days were numbered.

    Blog text (13)

  • - His days are numbered.

    Molly's Game (2017)

  • Your days are numbered... ...unless I help you.

    Doctor Zhivago (1965)

  • Their days are numbered, in my opinion.

    Blog text (5)

  • Her Majesty is very ill, and her days are numbered.

    The Scarlet Empress (1934)

  • He has no idea his days are numbered.

    Cassandra's Dream (2007)

  • There's trouble ahead of you, and your days are numbered.

    My Brother's Wedding (1983)

  • "The political insiders think they run the state, but I've got news for them: their days are numbered."

    Blog text (3)

  • There's trouble ahead of you, and your days are numbered.

Synonyms

numbered
vsdays are numbered
28 5.6

Having little time left before it ends

emphasizes an expected end often due to danger or failure

Antonyms

safe
∞ 1.0

Not likely to be harmed or in danger

secure
  • Specialized
16 4.7

A safe place for money that is unlikely to lose value

How Long

long-lasting
40 3.7
borrowed time
  • Informal
14 6.0
days are numbered
  • Informal
22 7.4
ended
34 1.0

Surface Forms

days are numbered main

Morphology

days + be + numbered

The meaning 'does not have much time left' is derivable from the constituents because 'numbered' (counted/limited) applied to 'days' naturally implies a limited remaining span; this figurative use is a straightforward metaphorical extension. Although the phrase is idiomatic, its logic is cross-linguistically common (e.g. 'your days are numbered' ≈ 'tus días están contados'), so a B1 learner who understands 'numbered' as 'counted/limited' will usually grasp the meaning.

Etymology

Days are numbered comes from the simple picture of someone counting the days left on a calendar, as if each day is already numbered and will run out. So it now means 'not much time left' or 'soon to end'.