# beg for one's life

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beg-for-ones-life
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To plead or make a desperate attempt to continue with what one has been doing.

## Examples

- The mouse ran and begged for its life.
- The villain cornered the spy, who began to beg for his life in a desperate attempt to escape.
- Faced with the inevitable consequences of his betrayal, the disgraced official fell to his knees and begged for his life before the king.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.