How to Pronounce "for the life of me"
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.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈfɔɹ/, /fɝ/, /fɹɝ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɫaɪf/ /ˈəv/ /ˈmi
British English
fˈɔː/ /ðə, ði/ /lˈaɪf/ /ˈɒv/ /mˈiː
Simplified Pronunciation
US
FOR-thuh-LYFE-uhv-MEE
UK
for-thuh-LYFE-ov-MEE
Listen in Context
I can't for the life of me find my keys.
She couldn't for the life of her remember the answer.
For the life of me, I don't know what happened.
He stared at the form but, for the life of him, couldn't fill it out.