precarious existence

collocation in English

meaningsofprecariousandexistence

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withexistence.
precarious
adjective
uk
/prɪˈkeə.ri.əs/us
/prɪˈker.i.əs/
in a dangerous state because of not being safe or not being held in ...
See more atprecarious
existence
noun
uk
/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/us
/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/
the fact of something or ...
See more atexistence

(Definition ofprecariousandexistencefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofprecarious existence

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
But from 1870 to 1926 it led aprecariousexistence, dogged by inadequate budgets and general indifference.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Moreover, women who refused to conform were excluded from their households and communities and were thus condemned to aprecariousexistence.
From theCambridge English Corpus
This contributed to a major source of vulnerability, a dependence on a volatile source, that is changing political factions, and because of such aprecariousexistence, it encouraged short-term speculation.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Finding a domestic service would have been difficult for those burdened with new-born infants, and begging and seasonal farm labour offered at best aprecariousexistence.
From theCambridge English Corpus
What is it that drives them to this barren,precariousexistence?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But there are far too few law centres, and those that exist sometimes have aprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We should remember that these unusual creatures live a prettyprecariousexistence, entirely dependent on the political fortunes of their masters.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is true that in certain places, in certain localities, there are, and have been, local associations with a more or lessprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But it is aprecariousexistenceand it could collapse at any moment.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
They fall easily as a prey to disease with the slightest disturbance of their mostprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is aprecariousexistencewhich is liable to end in sudden terrifying death or a slow prolonged death from starvation.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Secondly, as business men, they do not want theprecariousexistencethat a fully liberalised regime would bring about.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That has had a devastating impact on an alreadyprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It was born seven or eight months ago of an unnatural political union, and it has led a veryprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We cannot forget that they live a ratherprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Sub-post offices have been seeking long-term commercial viability—not a subsidised orprecariousexistence, but a well-founded existence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Those of use who live in coastwise towns know the hardships which these men have to undergo and theprecariousexistenceof themselves and their families under present conditions.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It might be as well to remember that while the taxes are very high yet the sum left is still a sufficient one to eke out aprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Europe's performers often live a veryprecariousexistenceat the best of times.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
They have aprecariousexistence.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofprecarious
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See other collocations withexistence