working on borrowed time
Definition

Definition of working on borrowed time - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
longevityfunctioning beyond expected lifespan
  • The ancient computer is working on borrowed time and could fail any day.
2.
timecontinuing despite imminent end
  • The old bridge is working on borrowed time and may collapse soon.
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Expressions with working

working stiffn.
average employee, especially one with a routine, low-paying job
He's just another working stiff trying to make ends meet.
working around the clockadj.
continuously working without stopping
The team is working around the clock to meet the deadline.
it's hell working thereexp.
extremely unpleasant work environment causing stress or discomfort
It's hell working there with all the constant pressure.
working hard or hardly workingexp.
humorous way to ask if someone is working hard or not
He walked by my desk and said, 'working hard or hardly working?'
working dayn.
hours in a day dedicated to work
Her working day starts at 9 AM.
in working orderadj.
functioning correctly without any issues
The printer is in working order after the repair.

Expressions with borrowed

operate on borrowed timev.
live or work longer than expected
After the surgery, he felt like he was operating on borrowed time.
live on borrowed timev.
exist longer than expected
The old bridge is living on borrowed time and could collapse any day.
borrowed timen.
period of uncertainty before inevitable event
The company is on borrowed time before the new regulations take effect.
borrowed lightn.
glory or success gained from another
He basked in the borrowed light of his famous friend.
borrowed sceneryadj.
using surrounding views to enhance a space's beauty
The garden features a borrowed scenery effect with distant mountains.
dip one's pen in a borrowed inkwellv.
engage romantically with someone else's partner
He was caught dipping his pen in a borrowed inkwell.
borrowed fundsn.
money obtained through loans or credit that must be paid back
The company financed its expansion mainly with borrowed funds.
borrowed capitaln.
money obtained from external sources for business use
The company used borrowed capital to expand its operations..
adorn oneself with borrowed plumesv.
claim honor or credit that belongs to someone else
He tried to adorn himself with borrowed plumes after the project succeeded.
borrowed plumesn.
false show of wealth or importance
Her borrowed plumes were evident in the way she spoke about her possessions.

Expressions with time

about timeexp.
referring to the concept of time
We talked about time and its mysteries.
in timeadv.
without being late
She arrived in time for the meeting.
take timev.
require a long period to happen or be done
Good things take time to develop..
time's upexp.
the deadline has passed, there is no more time
Time's up, please put your pencils down.
ahead of timeadv.
before the expected moment or deadline
The report was submitted ahead of time.
have the timev.
be available to do something
I don't have the time to meet today.
out of timeadj.
having no time left to finish something
We were out of time to submit the project.
take your timev.
use as much time as needed
Take your time to answer the question.
any time nowadv.
very soon, within a short time
The bus should arrive any time now.
as time goes byadv.
gradually, events develop as months go on
As time goes by, friendships can fade or grow stronger.

Terms related to working on borrowed time

💡 Terms in the same lexical field: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, hypernyms…
borrowworkdurationexistencefunctioninglifespanlongevityoperationsurvivaltimebriefephemeral

Examples of working on borrowed time in a sentence

  • His health is failing, and he's working on borrowed time.
  • The company is working on borrowed time due to financial issues.
  • The patient is working on borrowed time without a transplant.

View all translations of working on borrowed time

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:en sursis, ...
  2. German:nur noch eine Frage der Zeit, auf geliehener Zeit arbeiten, ...
  3. Italian:funzionando oltre il tempo previsto, col tempo contato, ...
  4. Spanish:funcionando más de lo esperado, viviendo de prestado, ...
  5. Portuguese:com os dias contados, a viver com tempo emprestado, ...
  6. Chinese:超出预期寿命, 时日无多, ...
  7. Japanese:借りた時間で動いている, 余命わずか, ...
  8. Arabic:يَعْمَل فَوْق الوَقْت المُحَدَّد, يَسير عَلى وَقْت مُسْتَعار, ...
  9. Hebrew:פּוֹעֵל עַל זְמַן שָׁאוּל, עַל זְמַן שָׁאוּל, ...
  10. Russian:на последнем издыхании, на грани разрушения, ...
  11. Ukrainian:працює понад очікуваний термін, на позиченому часі, ...
  12. Hindi:उधार समय पर काम कर रहा है, अस्थायी रूप से चल रहा, ...

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