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Glite Dictionary
life of a mayfly

life of a mayfly

7.7
A very short time before something ends
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : vida efímera
  • She worried their new friendship would have the life of a mayfly and fade away by summer.

Examples

  • The artist's fame proved to be the life of a mayfly, quickly forgotten by the public.

  • Their happiness had the life of a mayfly, vanishing almost as soon as it appeared.

  • His happiness was like the life of a mayfly.

  • The life of a mayfly is incredibly short.

  • She worried their new friendship would have the life of a mayfly and fade away by summer.

  • The artist's fame proved to be the life of a mayfly, quickly forgotten by the public.

  • Their happiness had the life of a mayfly, vanishing almost as soon as it appeared.

Synonyms

ephemeron
vslife of a mayfly
9.9

A living thing or object that lasts only a very short time like a mayfly

refers to a brief existence or short-lived situation rather than a specific creature

Antonyms

eternity
224 5.8

Time that never ends, often imagined after death

permanence
15 5.5

A situation where something lasts a long time without big change

How Short

life of a mayfly
  • Informal
7.7
short-lived
49 3.9
life expectancy
  • Specialized
52 3.0
long-lived
6 3.9

Surface Forms

life of a mayfly singular
lives of mayflies plural

Morphology

life + of + a + mayfly

The meaning is directly compositional: 'life of a mayfly' denotes the life belonging to a mayfly, and because mayflies are specifically known for their very short lifespan the phrase transparently signals a very brief existence. It depends on knowledge of the noun 'mayfly', but given that constituent meaning the metaphor is predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Life of a mayfly comes from the insect mayfly, whose adult life often lasts only one day. That's why the phrase means 'a very short life' or 'something that lasts only a short time'.