| 释义 |
within an inch of (one's) life within an inch of (one's) lifeAlmost entirely. Our neighbor is in the hospital because a burglar beat him to within an inch of his life. The sudden blaring of the alarm scared me within an inch of my life.See also: inch, life, of, withinwithin an inch of one's lifeFig. very close to losing one's life; almost to death. The accident frightened me within an inch of my life. When Mary was seriously ill in the hospital, she came within an inch of her life.See also: inch, life, of, withinto within an inch of your life 1. If someone beats another person to within an inch of their life, they beat them very severely. His fists were clenched as if he were going to beat Smythe to within an inch of his life.2. You can use to within an inch of their life or within an inch of their life after a verb to say that someone does something to an extreme degree. Can a classic car that has been restored to within an inch of its life still be described as original? You can see them shopping in London stores, groomed within an inch of their lives, with their best sides ready for any passing press photographer.See also: inch, life, of, withinwithin an inch of your life almost to the point of death. 1997 Marian Keyes Rachel's Holiday He kept touching his hair, which, as well as being dyed to within an inch of its life, was blowdried, flicked and rigid with spray. See also: inch, life, of, within |