hang on for dear life

hang on for dear life

To hang on to something very tightly, as if one's life depended on it. The hiker grabbed a root as she fell off the cliff, and had to hang on for dear life while she waited for the rescue crew. When the dentist motioned us back into the examination room, my daughter clutched her chair and hung on for dear life.
See also: dear, hang, life, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hang on for dear life

Cliché to hang on tight. As the little plane bounced around over the mountains, we hung on for dear life.
See also: dear, hang, life, on
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • hang
  • hang (something)
  • hang something
  • hang on to your hat
  • Hang on to your hat!
  • hang up (one's) boots
  • hang up your boots
  • hang out with (one)
  • hang from
  • hang from (something)