be living on borrowed time

be living on borrowed time

To be living or existing in a temporary or tenuous position, which may come to an end suddenly and abruptly. Accidents and disease can strike so unexpectedly that it feels like we're all living on borrowed time. The small aboriginal population has been living on borrowed time since the invaders began colonizing their land. The company has been living on borrowed time ever since those risky investments in 2007 went sour.

See also: borrow, living, on, time

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be living on borrowed time

or

be on borrowed time

COMMON If someone or something is living on borrowed time or is on borrowed time, they are not expected to survive for much longer. The organization is living on borrowed time. Its state funding runs out in June of this year, and beyond that, the future is in doubt. From this moment onwards, this government is on borrowed time.

See also: borrow, living, on, time

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012