
IdiomDaily Life
English
someone's days are numbered
Meaning: There is only a short time before something ends.
Example: “With the new highway being built, the little roadside diner's days are numbered.”
Origin: Echoes the Book of Daniel (5:26), where the writing on the wall at Belshazzar's feast is read as "God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." The phrase for a limited time remaining is common from the 19th century.
More English idioms
- dot the i's and cross the t's To be very careful and attentive to detail.
- down and out Poor.
- down in the dumps Depressed.
- down to the wire To the deadline.
- draw a blank To get no result; or to be unable to remember something.
- draw the line at something To not allow something beyond a certain acceptable point.
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