| 单词 | by one's fingernails |
| 释义 | > as lemmasby one's fingernails P3. figurative. by one's fingernails and variants: by a very narrow margin, barely, only just; = by one's fingertips at fingertip n. and adj. Phrases 3. Chiefly in to hang (also hold, cling, etc.) on (to something) by one's fingernails. Cf. by the skin of one's teeth at skin n. Phrases 7. ΚΠ 1905 Salt Lake Tribune 28 May 16/1 This is not the time to give up. Hang on by your finger-nails and your eyelashes if necessary. 1914 Anaconda (Montana) Standard 20 July 2/5 We are only holding on to the lead by our fingernails. 1943 N.Y. Times 27 May 5/1 His dismissal has been considered for some time and well informed observers told this correspondent that ‘he is holding on by his fingernails’. 1951 J. Jones From Here to Eternity xii. 158 And him, who had been a rip-roarer in the old days back in China, hanging on by his fingernails the last five years to get that pension. 1970 R. Thorp & R. Blake Music of their Laughter 24/2 I'm not hanging on by my fingernails or anything. 1989 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 1 June 8/1 The central Government is hanging on by its fingernails. 1996 Maclean's 4 Mar. 79/2 The aging, sun-blasted Redford..seems to be clinging to his boyish charm by his fingernails. 2005 J. Diamond Collapse (2006) i. 70 It was a struggle. There were difficult times, and they hung on by their fingernails. < as lemmas |
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