as if (one's) life depends on it

With maximum, possibly desperate, effort or energy (i.e., as if one is at risk of losing one's life if one fails). The boxer started the third round throwing punches as if his life depended on it. This project could very well determine the future of the company, so start working as if your lives depend on it!

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Veronika	vye-rah-NEE-kah (Russian), vee-rah-NEE-kah (Russian), ve-RO-nee-kah (German, Croatian)	Russian, Czech, Slovak, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Croatian, Macedonian, Swedish, Norweg
S&Aelig;Wine	-	Anglo-Saxon
Kiara	kee-AHR-ə	English (Modern)
Rehoboam	-	Biblical
Shamus	SHAY-mus	Irish
Staley	['steili]