How to Use for dear life in a Sentence

for dear life

phrase
  • To hang on for dear life, or, in church parlance, to endure to the end.
    — Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 May 2022
  • The song has to be so good that it gets passed around and people hold on to it for dear life.
    — David Marchese David Marchese, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2022
  • Then the Indians held on for dear life.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The other boroughs, for their part, cling to the Bronx for dear life.
    — Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
  • Pratt scooped it off the ground and held on for dear life as he was swarmed by white and orange jerseys.
    — Michael Niziolek, cleveland, 5 Dec. 2022
  • And yes, plenty of laughs were had as Driver held on for dear life at one point.
    — Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 10 July 2023
  • His job is to tuck in as flat as possible, hold on for dear life and pull the brakes at the end of the run.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
  • At one point, Cruise dangles upside down from a plane, clinging on for dear life.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 9 Feb. 2025
  • The poor little fellow—trying to keep his head on his shoulders—holds on for dear life to his knees.
    — Lance Esplund, WSJ, 22 Feb. 2023
  • For people who make video games, 2024 was a year of holding on for dear life.
    — Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Bill chewed his cigar nervously and hung on to the rod for dear life as the fish dashed headlong into a bed of weeds.
    — Don Shiner, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2025
  • On life support Here are some bills that are hanging on for dear life and unlikely to pass.
    — Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 26 Mar. 2024
  • Gabbard held on to this talking point, clearly crafted by her handlers, for dear life.
    — The Editors, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
  • At one point, the long table tips over, forcing her to hang on for dear life while suspended many feet in the air.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
  • That makes a pit to hell open up in the living room, leaving Gabbie hanging on for dear life.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024
  • The Boston Bruins are hanging on to the second wild card for dear life.
    — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The Nuggets have often done it by getting to the fourth quarter in one piece, then holding on for dear life.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Later UConn got its only win over Yale, hanging on for dear life.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 Sep. 2022
  • In the end, the Wildcats had to hold on for dear life to avoid the visitors forcing overtime.
    — Ryan Black, The Courier-Journal, 4 Jan. 2023
  • The hiker was about 50 to 60 feet below the trail — hanging on for dear life, the video shows.
    — Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024
  • Cruise’s character was seen in the video clip grabbing a seat belt, holding on for dear life, as the plane flipped upside down.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • With the rising cost of housing – and employment – Harlem is hanging on for dear life.
    — Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024
  • Colson Baker whispers to the kitten clutching his chest for dear life.
    — Meaghan Garvey, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2022
  • At this point in the fight, Hunt has leapt from his plane onto Gabriel's, hanging onto the wing for dear life.
    — EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Cynics don’t make that money without the true believers — the ones who hear these promises and hold on to them for dear life.
    — Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Next morning, Irvine’s neighbor watched as houses floated by, and people clung to them for dear life.
    — Robert B. Tucker, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
  • The Knicks went from cruising to a Game 1 victory to trying to hold on for dear life.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Yet they have been forced to grab the hind legs of the CFP cash cow and hold on, together, for dear life.
    — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
  • But the Brewers wound up holding on for dear life, an 8-7 win that ended with the tying run on base.
    — Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2022
  • Pinheiro Braathen clung on for dear life as his skis slipped through a turn in his second run, almost sending him tumbling.
    — Sean Nevin, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'for dear life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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