nine lives

nine lives

What one is said to have after surviving despite a near encounter with death or disaster. From the common myth that cats have nine lives. I can't believe he survived after his parachute didn't open! He must have nine lives or something. It seems as though the CEO has nine lives, as her company has faced near ruin several times but has managed to remain standing after all these years.
See also: lives, nine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nine lives

If you say that someone has nine lives, you mean that they keep managing to get out of difficult or dangerous situations without being harmed. I was certain that one day my nine lives would run out and I would be caught — or worse. I think this is probably going to be the end, although he has shown he is a political cat with far more than nine lives. Note: This expression is often used to suggest surprise that a person has survived so long. Note: This expression comes from the saying `a cat has nine lives', which people use to say that cats seem to survive a lot of very dangerous situations or events.
See also: lives, nine
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • have nine lives
  • (someone) has nine lives
  • a cat has nine lives
  • cat has nine lives
  • have a brush with
  • have a brush with (something)
  • grey
  • dark
  • be in the pocket
  • put the hard word on someone
References in classic literature
"But in the course of my wanderings I had the good fortune to save the ninth life of a tailor -- tailors having, like cats, nine lives, as you probably know.
The Marvelous Land of Oz
One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.
Puddnhead Wilson
"I have nine lives," said the kitten, purring softly as it walked around in a circle and then came back to the roof; "but I can't lose even one of them by falling in this country, because I really couldn't manage to fall if I wanted to."
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake shook Itbayat, Batanes Thursday morning, days after it was jolted by a killer quake that claimed nine lives and damaged numerous houses and structures.
Quake disturbs Itbayat, Batanes anew
According to the details, the police said that the incident took place near Sakrand town in Nawabshah in which blaze claimed nine lives and burnt all household goods.
9 persons kills as hut catches fire in Nawabshah
He is perhaps the master of political survival or as others say, he has the proverbial nine lives of a cat.
Wambora's nine lives, Living with cancer, Conjestina's mental health fight: Your Breakfast Briefing
A small section of the slope along Jalan Paya Terubong, about 1.6km from the location of the Bukit Kukus landslide that claimed nine lives last month, collapsed before dawn today.
Yet another landslide at Penang's Jalan Paya Terubong, no injuries reported
Earlier, it was reported that a mysterious disease had claimed nine lives in Barimakar area of Lower Dir.
Rickettsial disease claim nine lives in Lower Dir
Earlier on Wednesday, a suicide blast claimed nine lives and left over 20 wounded as the attacker targeted a police picket ahead of a religious congregation underway in Raiwind area.
Another victim of Raiwind blast succumbs to injuries, toll reaches 11
Summary: Patna (Bihar) [India], Feb 28 (ANI): Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Baitha an accused in the Muzaffarpur hit-and-run case, on Wednesday denied driving the vehicle involved in the accident which claimed nine lives.
Muzaffarpur hit-and-run: Accused Baitha cries foul
US-based thermal management systems and controls provider Phillips and Temro Industries Inc., a Harbour Group Co, has acquired the Wolverine Engine Heaters business and related assets of Nine Lives, Inc., the company said.
Deal snapshot: THERMAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST PHILLIPS AND TEMRO ACQUIRES WOLVERINE ENGINE HEATERS
Auto Business News-October 31, 2017--Phillips & Temro Industries acquires Nine Lives' Wolverine Engine Heaters business and related assets
Phillips & Temro Industries acquires Nine Lives' Wolverine Engine Heaters business and related assets
Incessant rains and lightning have claimed nine lives in West Bengal, while about 2,000 people in Tripura have been displaced due to floods triggered by heavy showers.
Monsoon fury continues in northeast India
Cleveland, OH, June 14, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Jay Lender of SpongeBob SquarePants and Disney's Phineas and Ferb fame, has joined Pilla-Scheetz Productions to help produce season 1 of The Nine Lives of Claw.
Jay Lender Brings Tremendous Animation Success to The Nine Lives of Claw
A WOMAN who has been likened to a "cat with nine lives" has made an unlikely recovery from a string of injuries - and is preparing to run her first marathon.
Accident prone Aisling on road to recovery; Unlucky athlete bounces back from setbacks and is ready for marathon