come to life Definition

life
noun lives

1a. The quality or state which distinguishes living animals and plants from dead ones;

Thesaurus: existence, living, being, presence, animation, growth, consciousness.
1b. Collectively, the characteristics which distinguish living animals, plants, etc from inanimate objects, especially the ability to grow, develop and reproduce.

Thesaurus: career, history, biography, background, experience.
2a. The period between one's birth and death (compare lifetime);
2b. The period between one's birth and the present time;

Example: has led a very sheltered life
2c. The period between the present time and one's death.

Example: had his life carefully mapped out
3. The length of time a thing exists or is able to function. Also in compounds.

Example: a long shelf life
Example: long-life milk
4. Living things in general or as a group.

Example: marine life
5. A living thing, especially a human.

Example: many lives lost in war
6. A way or manner of living.

Example: leads a very busy life
7. A specified aspect of one's life.

Example: love-life
8. Liveliness; energy; high spirits.

Example: full of life
9. A source of liveliness, energy or high spirits.

Example: the life and soul of the party
10. A written account of someone's life.
11. colloq
A life sentence.
Example: got life for murdering a taxi-driver
12. Any of a number of chances a player has of remaining in a game.

Example: got to level six without losing a life
13. For the duration of one's life.

Example: a life member of the Labour Party

Idiom: as large as life

colloq
In person; real and living.

Idiom: bring something to life

To make (eg a story) lively or interesting.

Idiom: come to life

To become lively or interesting.

Idiom: for life

Until death.
Example: friends for life

Idiom: for the life of me

Despite trying very hard.
Example: For the life of me, I just can't understand what she sees in him

Idiom: get a life!

colloq
Stop being so petty, boring, conventional, sad, etc.

Derivative: high life

See separate entry.

Idiom: the life of Riley

colloq
An easy, carefree (often irresponsible) life.

Idiom: not on your life!

colloq
Certainly not!

Idiom: take one's life in one's hands

To take a very important decision which will have serious consequences for oneself; to put one's life at risk.

Idiom: to the life

Exactly like the original.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon lif.