on borrowed time



on borrowed time

not likely to be active or working much longer Sales were down by a whole lot, putting the company on borrowed time. I think our hot water heater is on borrowed time.
Usage notes: often used in the form living on borrowed time (not likely to live very long): He knew he was living on borrowed time after two heart attacks.
See also: borrow, on, time

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Ami (2)AY-meeEnglish
Agneseah-NYE-ze (Italian), AHG-ne-se (Latvian) Italian, Latvian
Timotei-Bulgarian, Romanian
JudyJOO-deeEnglish
Eddie['edi]
Boguslav-Medieval Slavic