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User_gary Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

for the life of me

For the life of me, I can't understand why this thread has generated such hostility.


Please explain the highlighed phrase. [Perhaps, it mean (since my birth)]


I found this phrase only in the `dictionary.com', but there is a mess in dictionary.com, which beginners cannot understand.
  

Top answer

Ha! no idea, even though I use the phrase myself I've never really thought about exactly what we are expressing here. no, I can't even manage to explain it generally.

— Nona the brit

  • Ha!
  • no idea, even though I use the phrase myself I've never really thought about exactly what we are expressing here.
  • no, I can't even manage to explain it generally.
  • In this context it just means I really really really don't understand why...
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5 Answers
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Ha! no idea, even though I use the phrase myself I've never really thought about exactly what we are expressing here. It just means ...no, I can't even manage to explain it generally.
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Like Nona, I can't give you the background of this expression, although I use it all the time - it's really just for emphasis. Some alternatives to "For the life of me, I can't explain it.":

Try as I might, I can't explain it.

I'm blowed if I can explain it.

I haven't the foggiest how to explain it.
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"For the life of me" = If my life depended on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook.
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Feebs11"For the life of me" = If my life depended on it. [Colloq.] --T. Hook.
So that's the meaning...
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