COMMON

1. If someone is fighting for their life, they are seriously ill or injured and are in danger of dying. A boy aged 15 was fighting for his life last night but two younger children were said to be out of danger. A toddler is fighting for his life after being run over by a boy who was playing in his father's car. Note: You can also talk about a fight for life. Mary won a desperate fight for life but was left paralysed from the waist down.

2. If an organization or country is fighting for its life, it is in danger of failing or being defeated. An ancient Scottish university institution is fighting for its life. Note: You can put an adjective in front of life to show that a person, organization or country is fighting to save a particular thing related to their existence. Sir Nicholas will be fighting for his political life when he appears before the inquiry in a fortnight. What we are seeing is a country fighting for its moral life.