phr. all one's life 一辈子，毕生
I have stayed in Shanghai all mylife. 我这一生都住在上海。
a matter of life and death 1. 生死攸关的事
2. 极其重要的事，决定性的事
as big (或 large) as life 1. 与实物一般大小
a portrait as large as life 与真人一般大小的画像
2. 〈口〉亲自；确确实实
Believe it or not, he was here yesterday as big as life. 信不信由你，昨天他确确实实是在这儿。
bring to life 1. 使苏醒
They used artificial respiration to bring the drowned swimmer back to life. 他们用人工呼吸使溺水的游泳者苏醒过来。
2. 使生动，使活泼
His lectures on the subject really brought it to life. 他确实把这个题目讲活了。
3. 使(小说人物等)显得逼真
come to life 1. 苏醒
The soldier came to life again. 士兵恢复了知觉。
The earphone came to life with a whoosh. 耳机嘶的一声又响了起来。
2. (变得)活跃
I seldom come to life before noon. 我中午以前往往精神不振。
The quiet boy came to life after he went to college. 那个沉默寡言的男孩进大学后变得活跃起来。
3. 显得逼真，被维妙维肖地描绘
The play came to life under his direction. 在他的导演下那出戏演得活龙活现。
do anything for a quiet life 为了不被打扰而做出任何让步
during their joint lives 见 joint
for dear life(或 for one's life) 1. 逃命(似)地
He was running for dear life toward town. 他逃命似地向城里飞跑。
2. 拼命地
He held on to the ledge for dear life. 他死命抓牢岩石的突出部。
for life 1. 终生
a pension for life 终身养老金
They became friends for life. 他们成了终生至交。
2. 为了保命
for the life of one 〈口〉[用于否定句]即使拿性命打赌，无论如何
I can't understand it for the life of me. 我无论如何也弄不懂。
She can't for the life of her remember where she left her bag. 她怎么也想不起把手提包丢在哪儿了。
frighten the life out of 使某人吓得要死
gasp life away (或 out) 断气，咽气
get (或 have) a life 〈口〉[常用于祈使语气]过更充实(或更有意义)的生活
get on in life 发迹，飞黄腾达
They tried to get on in life with their skill and wisdom. 他们试图凭自己的技术与才智飞黄腾达。
get the fright of one's life 〈口〉从来没有这样惊吓过
have the time of one's life 〈口〉从来没有这样快活过
in life 1. 在世间
Nothing in life surpasses that. 世上没有东西可超过那个。
2. 在一生中
3. 活着的
Has he been dead for four weeks? That's impossible. I saw him in life at the party. 他死了4星期吗? 不可能，我那次晚会上还看见他活生生的。
larger than life 1. (描写等)夸大的
2. 超群的
Many film stars seem to be larger thanlife to the mass of ordinary people. 在一般人眼中许多电影明星似乎非同凡人。
lay down one's life 牺牲生命
He laid down his life for the drowning child. 他为了救溺水的孩子而牺牲了自己的生命。
life and limb 见 limb¹
make life easy 不提出难题，不制造麻烦
on your life 1. 一定，务必；在任何情况下
Obey them on your life. 一定要服从他们。
2. 〈口〉[用于否定句]绝对
A: Will she give me her recipe? B: Not on your life. 甲：她会把食谱交给我吗? 乙：决不会。
A: Would you willingly accept a reduction in salary? B: Never on your life. 甲：你心甘情愿接受减薪吗? 乙：绝对不。
put some life into it 〈口〉鼓起劲来干这事
seek sb.'s life 图谋杀害某人
He has long sought the life of the king. 他长期以来想谋害国王。
save sb.'s life 1. 拯救某人的生命
2. 〈口〉帮助某人摆脱困境(或无聊等)
see life 见世面，经历世事
You'll never see life if you stay at this small town all the time. 如果你老呆在这小镇里，就永远见不了世面。
sell one's life dearly 死得够本，被杀前使敌方伤亡惨重
take (a) life 杀人(或动物)，杀生
take one's life in one's hands 1. 冒生命危险
He took his life in his hands when he tried to capture the wild horse. 他试图捉住那匹野马，简直是在提着脑袋玩命。
2. 冒极大风险
I took my life in my hands and asked for a rise in salary. 我豁出去了，要求增加工资。
take one's (own) life 自杀
In despair at his failure, he took his ownlife. 他因失败感到绝望而自杀。
take sb.'s life 杀死某人
He sat there appalled that he had taken a friend's life. 他坐在那里，因杀死了朋友而吓得魂不附体。
That's life. [表示接受现状]生活就是那样的。
the other life 来世，来生
This is the life! [表示心满意足]这才叫生活呢!
this life 今世，今生
to save (one's) life 〈口〉无论怎样，即使要了命
He couldn't play football to save his life. 他怎么也学不会踢足球。
to the life 逼真地，维妙维肖地
She can imitate her mother to the life. 她能维妙维肖地模仿她母亲的样子。
That portrait is you to the life. 那张像画得活像你。
true to life 逼真的，栩栩如生的
All the characters in this play are true to life. 这出戏的所有角色都演得生动而逼真。
upon my life 我敢以生命担保，我敢说
Upon my life, you are enough to vex a saint! 我敢说，你够得上惹圣人恼火!
What a life! [表示不满]人生太苦了!