命在旦夕

命在旦夕[须臾] [mìng zài dàn xī]

1. ■ hold one's life on a precarious tenure; be at death's door; be at the point of death; be dying; be near one's end; be on the verge of death; Death is staring somebody in the face.; Death may come any minute.; One's hour draws near.; One's life hung in the balance.; One's life is a question of hours.; One's life is in danger.; One's life is nearing its close.; One's life is not worth a day's [an hour's] purchase.; One's life may end at any moment.; One's life seemed on the point of coming to an end.