Live on Borrowed Time——活過壽限

** to outlive reasonable expectations; to continue to live past the time one was expected to die; to continue to exist longer than expected

~~ 活過壽限；在苟延殘喘；活得較預期時間長；在預計期限之後繼續存在；大難不死繼續活着一段時間；經歷大病或大災難後僥倖活下來。

~~ manage to avoid death; evade death; escape death; cheat death; cling to life; remain alive; keep on living; continue to exist

!! The term was known in the USA by the 1880s. Its literal sense is that one is living on time borrowed from death. The Indiana Progress (September 1886) has it: “We may be care-worn and aged, forsaken of the world, living on borrowed time, useless so far as any activity is concerned, dependent on children, or friends; yet Jesus has loving acquaintance with us.”

這個術語於一八八○年代在美國廣為人知。意思是一個人靠着從死亡借來的時間活着。《印第安納進步報》（一八八六年九月）寫道：“我們可能會憂心忡忡，年老體衰被世界拋棄，靠借來的時間過活，在任何活動都毫無用處，依賴孩子或朋友；然而耶穌對我們卻很友善。”

>> Tom’s video-game rental company should have closed shop many years ago -- it is living on borrowed time.

湯姆的電子遊戲租賃公司多年前就應該關門——它活過壽限。

>> With your health condition it would be wise to think that you are living on borrow time, so everyday is extra for you -- enjoy it while you can.

考慮到你的健康狀況，明智想法是你在苟延殘喘，所以每一天對你而言是額外的——趁你還可以時盡情享受。

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師 李啟文 教授