Dictionary

live on the edge

Verb

live on the edge

(idiomatic) To have an adventurous or perilous lifestyle; to behave in a manner which creates risks for oneself.
- 1989 Nov. 26, Linda Saslow, "Dragging The Ocean For Winter's Bounty ↗," New York Times (retrieved 13 Oct 2011):
  "I like living on the edge," said Mr. Wertz, adding that, although winter fishing is far more dangerous, it is also more lucrative.
- 2005 April 18, Michael Elliott, "[http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1972656_1972691_1973042,00.html Leaders & Revolutionaries: Chen Shui-bian]," Time:
  The President of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, seems to relish living on the edge. . . . Having narrowly won a second four-year term last year after surviving an apparent assassination attempt, Chen, 54, will remain in office until 2008.
(idiomatic) To be caught in an economic or societal situation which one did not choose, which threatens one's well-being or life, and which causes distress.
- 2006 April 19, "Tel Aviv bombing shatters lull in violence ↗," IOL News (Reuters-Sapa-AP) (retrieved 13 Oct 2011):
  "The bombing was a sudden jolt and we are back to living on the edge again," said Gonsherovsky, 23, in Jerusalem's crowded Mahane Yehuda market.
- 2007 June 13, Tiisetso Motsoeneng, "Drought leaves Lesotho facing food crisis ↗," Mail & Guardian (South Africa) (retrieved 13 Oct 2011):
  "The last thing Lesotho needed was another poor harvest since so many vulnerable people are already living on the edge, struggling to cope with the combined impact of successive crop failures, extreme poverty and HIV/Aids," said Amir Abdulla, WFP's regional director for Southern Africa.

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