run for one's life

Verb

run for one's life (third-person singular simple present runs for one's life, present participle running for one's life, simple past ran for one's life, past participle run for one's life)

1. (literally) To run away desperately from danger.
   • Run to the hills! Run for your life!1982, Iron Maiden, Run to the Hills
   • Typically she would be awakened by a nightmare, very few of which she remembered, except for scraps involving being chased and running for her life.2010, Irvin D. Yalom, Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death, →ISBN
2. (idiomatic) To attempt to escape an extremely unfavorable or unfortunate situation.
   • Isn't the dating period supposed to be the period where they are getting to know each other and they are supposed to be in a daze about each other? What is your problem, Bella? Run for your life!2007, Bj Binning, Circumstances, →ISBN, page 9
   • There are also times you must run for your life or be dragged away into “Dam! I Could of, I Should of, or If I would of land.2011, Machicote, Life Trials, →ISBN, page 9