to run for one's life
1
3.9
- idiom
- Informal
- Rollo's got a price on his head and is running for his life.
- run for your life!" yelled
- run for your life, boy
- turned and ran for her life
Examples
-
A girl runs for her life, chased by six gang members into a dark alley.
Fiction book (1995) -
When the fire alarm rang, everyone started to run for their life out of the building.
-
You better run for your lives!
-
Got off a shot, then ran, ran for her life.
Fiction book (2000) -
She ran for her life!
-
Ten seconds later, Vanya was down the stairs, out on the street, running for his life, running in despair.
Fiction book (2000) -
Bracey gets up and runs for his life, as the VC recover and fire at him.
Fiction book (1998) -
At least twice a week, he finds himself dodging stray bullets as he runs for his life.
Academic text (2005) -
By the length of the stride, George guessed that the man was running—running for his life.
Fiction book (1998) -
She had to run for her life when the dog broke loose and chased after her.
Synonyms
907
1.6
To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control
583
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
361
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
353
3.7
To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye
35
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
23
3.5
Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying
17
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
10
5.6
To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble
7
7.0
To run away quickly because you are afraid
5
7.8
To run away quickly to escape danger
2
7.1
Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of
1
9.7
To run away quickly to avoid trouble
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
9.9
To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police
1
6.1
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
1
8.6
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
1
9.3
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
Antonyms
How Urgent
- Informal
1
3.9
583
2.4
4
2.5
∞
1.0
876
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally clear: 'run' (move quickly) + 'for' (with the purpose of) + 'one's life' (one's existence) yields the interpretation 'run in order to save one's life'. This purposive structure is cross-linguistically common and follows normal English syntax, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The idiom run for one's life comes from the simple image of a person beginning to run because their life is in danger, as when a building catches fire or an animal attacks. So, it means 'to flee as quickly as possible'.