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living proof

living proof

28 3.5
A person or thing whose life shows something can be true
  • noun
: prueba viviente
  • She is living proof that hard work and determination can lead to success.

Ish was living proof of of that.

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Examples

  • There are so many incredible blind people who are living proof that you can live a successful, happy, fulfilling life without sight.

  • Our next guest is living proof that it is never too late to take on any challenge from model to cookbook author to TV host.

  • I stand before you as living proof of the American Dream,

  • My next guest is living proof that the American Dream is alive and well.

  • I was living proof of the magic of her method.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Success stories like yours are living proof that it works!

    Blog text (19)
  • But overall, I hope that I am living proof that you can succeed.

    Academic text (2009)
  • I'm here living proof that people can survive.

  • And so I am living proof that long distance relationships can work, they can thrive, and they can work out for the long term if you have the right strategies.

  • You are living proof that the saying you're not ugly, you're just broke is a complete lie.

Synonyms

proof
vsliving proof
∞ 2.5

Evidence that shows something is true

is a real person or thing that serves as a direct example by existing

Antonyms

∞ 1.6

A feeling of not being sure about something

1 6.8

A fact or argument that shows an idea is not true

How Strong

living proof
28 3.5
proof
∞ 2.5
evidence
∞ 1.8
sign
∞ 3.2
indication
382 3.9
hint
153 1.5

Surface Forms

living proof singular
living proofs plural

Morphology

living + proof

The meaning is directly and predictably built from 'living' (alive) + 'proof' (evidence): a person/thing whose existence serves as evidence. This noun-noun compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Living proof comes from the simple image of a person who is still alive (living) and who serves as the proof that something is real. So, calling someone living proof means they are a real, visible example that shows an idea is 'true' or 'possible'.