For the life of me Meaning in English
expression
FOR-thuh-LYFE-uhv-MEE
for-thuh-LYFE-ov-MEE
Definition
Used to emphasize that you cannot do or remember something, no matter how hard you try.
Usage & Nuances
This informal idiom expresses strong frustration at inability to remember or do something. Often appears in statements with 'can't' or 'couldn't' (e.g. 'I can't for the life of me remember his name'). Rarely used in formal writing. It does not mean 'risking one's life.'
Spanish: por más que lo intente - por nada del mundoPortuguese (BR): de jeito nenhum - por nadaPortuguese (PT): por nada deste mundo - de maneira nenhumaChinese (Simplified): 怎么也（想不起来/做不到）Chinese (Traditional): 怎麼也（想不起來／做不到）Hindi: मैं चाहकर भी (समझ/याद/कर) नहीं सकताArabic: مهما حاولت - أبداًBengali: কিছুতেই - কিছু করেই (মনে পড়ে না/পারছি না)Russian: как ни стараюсь - хоть убейJapanese: どうしても - いくら頑張ってもVietnamese: dù cố mấy cũng không thể - chẳng thể nàoKorean: 아무리 해도 - 도저히Turkish: ne yaptıysam da - bir türlüUrdu: چاہ کر بھی - لاکھ کوشش کے باوجودIndonesian: sekeras apa pun - sama sekali tidak bisa
Example Sentences
I can't for the life of me find my keys.
basic
She couldn't for the life of her remember the answer.
basic
For the life of me, I don't know what happened.
basic
He stared at the form but, for the life of him, couldn't fill it out.
natural
For the life of me, I can't figure out this math problem.
natural
We checked everywhere and for the life of us couldn't find the cat.
natural