# one's days are numbered

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ones-days-are-numbered
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Some period of time, such as a term of employment or a lifetime, is coming to an end.

## Examples

- His days are numbered at this company.
- When the new manager arrived, the lazy assistant knew his days were numbered.
- As the regime's grip tightened and foreign aid dried up, the embattled president sensed his days were numbered, yet he refused to flee.

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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.