lifeline
/ˈlaɪflaɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlaɪflaɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlīf-ˌlīn/ (ame, mw)
lifeline — noun
- lifelinesingular
- lifelinesplural
1. a person, service, or source of help that keeps someone or something going when
a person, service, or source of help that keeps someone or something going when life is hard or money is short
The free clinic became a lifeline for families without health insurance.
become a lifeline for [group]
Grandma's weekly calls were a lifeline during my first month abroad.
The small loan gave the bakery a lifeline after the storm.
For many teens, the school counselor is a lifeline after family fights.
用法筆記
Often figurative. It names the help itself, unlike sense 2, which is a route or communication link.
2. a key way to reach a place or keep in touch with it, especially when other links
a key way to reach a place or keep in touch with it, especially when other links are weak or cut off
During winter, the mountain road is the town's only lifeline.
only lifeline to a place
When the bridge closed, small boats became the island's lifeline.
Radio was the village's lifeline after the phone towers fell.
That narrow rail line remains a lifeline between the port and mines.
用法筆記
Usually used for transport, supply, or communication links between places.
3. a rope thrown to someone in deep water so they can grab it and be pulled to safe
a rope thrown to someone in deep water so they can grab it and be pulled to safety
A sailor threw a lifeline to the boy beside the broken pier.
throw a lifeline to [person]
Jude caught the lifeline before the waves pulled him farther out.
The crew lowered a lifeline from the ferry's side.
With numb hands, Diego held the lifeline until the rescue boat arrived.
用法筆記
Thrown during an emergency rescue; unlike senses 4-6, it is not fixed to the boat or one person.
4. a strong line fixed around a boat's edge for people to hold while moving on deck
a strong line fixed around a boat's edge for people to hold while moving on deck
Bao gripped the lifeline as the fishing boat rolled in darkness.
hold the lifeline on deck
Wet spray covered the lifeline along the yacht's narrow deck.
The captain told us to stay inside the lifeline during the storm.
A deckhand checked the lifeline before passengers stepped onto the boat.
用法筆記
Fixed around the edge of a boat for anyone on deck to hold.
5. a rope or strap clipped to a person so they stay attached to a boat, roof, or ot
a rope or strap clipped to a person so they stay attached to a boat, roof, or other high structure
The roofer kept his lifeline clipped to the steel beam.
clip a lifeline to [anchor]
Arjun tightened the lifeline before climbing onto the wet mast.
Workers must wear a lifeline when they repair the bridge cables.
The lifeline stopped her fall just below the roof edge.
用法筆記
Usually clipped to one person or harness to stop a fall from height.
6. a line joining a diver to the people above, used for signals and safety
a line joining a diver to the people above, used for signals and safety
Femi checked the lifeline before he sank under the ice.
diver lifeline to surface crew
A tug on the lifeline told the crew to pull him up.
The diver followed the lifeline back after the water turned cloudy.
Without a lifeline, the new diver would have lost contact with the boat.
用法筆記
Links a diver to people above for signals, contact, and recovery.
7. the curved mark around the base of the thumb that palm readers use when talking
the curved mark around the base of the thumb that palm readers use when talking about a person's future and length of life
The market fortune-teller traced my lifeline with a red pen.
trace a lifeline on the palm
Yuna laughed when her uncle said her lifeline looked very long.
The book showed where the lifeline curves around the thumb.
At the fair, a reader compared Lan's lifeline with her heart line.
用法筆記
Used in palm reading rather than ordinary talk about safety or support.