cheat death
verbEtymology Compare French trompe-la-mort.
1
To survive a situation which would be expected to result in death.
- From Olar, Han Shepard, They say you're alive. That you cheated death. That sending you this isn't just a pointless exercise as part of my therapy. They say a lot of things.2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Therapy:
- The Greenville resident, and the other remaining survivors of World War II, have cheated death twice, escaping with their lives in a deadliest military conflict in history and then outliving their life expectancy to enjoy the fruits of their service.2015, Ron Barnett, “World War II vets who cheated death twice honor their fallen brothers”, in The Greenville News, retrieved 11 Aug 2019:
2 more examples
- A Holocaust survivor who cheated death in eight Nazi concentration camps during World War Two has recalled his experiences, 70 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.2015 October 5, Tom Mullen, “Surviving eight Nazi death camps”, in BBC News, retrieved 11 Aug 2019:
- Having cheated death twice, Okehampton's successful revival was recognised at RAIL's National Rail Awards in September, with victory in the Small Station of the Year category.2023 November 15, Nick Brodrick, “Okehampton's rejuvenated station is 'ACE'”, in RAIL, number 996, page 50: