not long for this world
4
8.6
- idiom
:
no le queda mucho tiempo
- 'Cause this way of life isn't long for this world.
- not long for this world, he said
- knew she was not long for this world
That's that's why I feel like Taiwan is is not long for this world.
- That's that's why I feel like Taiwan is is not long for this world.
Examples
-
30 Rock is not long for this world.
Blog text (27) -
I'm afraid my grandfather is not long for this world due to his illness.
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I am not long for this world.
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I am not long for this world.
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Look, anyway, I have it on good authority that that relationship is not long for this world, so relax.
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I knew she was not long for this world.
Fiction book (1996) -
I'm not long for this world, Father.
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It's generally an indicator that the person in question is likely not long for this world.
Blog text (30) -
As I mentioned, I'm not long for this world.
Blog text (23) -
Not long for this world, I fear.
Blog text (29)
Synonyms
7
7.4
A person or thing not likely to last much longer because of a serious problem
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
not + long + for + this + world
The parts 'not long' + 'for this world' transparently signal that something will not last much longer, so a learner knowing the words can infer limited remaining time. However, 'for this world' is a figurative way to mean 'in life' (near death) and the full idiomatic sense may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Not long for this world may come from an old idea that a very sick or badly damaged person was no longer fit to stay in this world and would soon go to the next life. So, if someone or something is not long for this world, it means they will probably 'die' or stop existing soon.