1
be a lifeline to/for sb
介词用 to 或 for，表示“对某人而言是至关重要的帮助或依靠”。
The scholarship was a lifeline to many students.
这笔奖学金对许多学生来说是生命线。
生命线；掌纹
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
生命线；掌纹
a crease on the palm that is said, in palmistry, to show how long you will live
The scholarship was a lifeline to many students.
这笔奖学金对许多学生来说是生命线。
这里指手掌上的生命线，不是救生索或抽象意义上的生命线。
供溺水或坠落者抓握的绳索。
A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
手掌上的一条纹路；看手相者认为其长度预示寿命长短
a crease on the palm; its length is said by palmists to indicate how long you will live
危机中的救赎之源。
A source of salvation in a crisis.
使人得以生存或继续做某事的支持(常通过提供必不可少的联系)
support that enables people to survive or to continue doing something (often by providing an essential connection)
The palm reader gently traced my lifeline and told me I was naturally very determined.
看手相的人轻轻描过我的生命线，告诉我我天生就很有决心。
AI contextual example
She joked that her short lifeline meant she should start enjoying life immediately.
她开玩笑说，她的生命线很短，所以应该立刻开始享受生活。
AI contextual example
Most people have lifelines of different lengths on their two hands.
大多数人的两只手上，生命线长短不同。
AI contextual example
the airlift provided a lifeline for Berlin
空运为柏林提供了生命线。
WordNet
介词用 to 或 for，表示“对某人而言是至关重要的帮助或依靠”。
The scholarship was a lifeline to many students.
这笔奖学金对许多学生来说是生命线。
也可说 give sb a lifeline，意思相近，都表示“伸出援手”。
The government threw small businesses a lifeline during the crisis.
政府在危机期间向小企业抛出了一条救生索。
这里指手掌上的掌纹，与“救生索”或“最重要的帮助”无关。
Palm readers say the lifeline on your palm shows your health.
看手相的人说，手掌上的生命线显示你的健康状况。
Not this
The palmist said my life line is long.
Use this
The palmist said my lifeline is long.
表示手掌上的这条纹路时，lifeline 是固定合成词，应写成一个词；分开写成 life line 是错误的。
Not this
The internet is a lifeline of me.
Use this
The internet is a lifeline for me.
表达“对某人来说是生命线”时，应用介词 for 引出受益对象；of me 是受汉语“我的生命线”直译影响，不符合英语搭配。
Not this
Rescuers threw the sailor lifeline.
Use this
Rescuers threw the sailor a lifeline.
lifeline 是可数名词，此处第一次提到且非特指，必须加不定冠词 a；漏掉冠词是英语学习者常见的可数性错误。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
给某人提供关键帮助，拉某人一把
The bank threw the struggling business a lifeline by extending its deadline.
银行延长最后期限，给这家陷入困境的企业提供了一条生命线。
国家的生命线（指国家赖以生存的关键事物）
The river is the lifeline of the country for transportation and irrigation.
这条河是该国的生命线，负责运输和灌溉。
经济命脉
The new highway has become the economic lifeline of the region.
这条新公路已成为该地区的经济命脉。
长生命线（掌纹）
Palmists often say that a long lifeline indicates a long life.
手相师常说，长生命线预示长寿。
短生命线（掌纹）
Don't worry if you have a short lifeline; it doesn't mean you will die young.
如果你有短生命线，别担心；这并不意味着你会早逝。
看某人的生命线（看手相）
The fortune-teller asked to read my lifeline before making any predictions.
算命先生要求先看我的生命线，然后才做出预言。
给某人一条救生索；向某人伸出援手
The government threw the struggling company a lifeline by offering a low-interest loan.
政府通过提供低息贷款，给这家陷入困境的公司一条救生索。
抓住救命稻草；抓住一线生机
He clutched at the lifeline his old friend offered him and moved out of the city.
他抓住了老朋友伸出的救命稻草，搬离了那座城市。
通往…的生命线；与外界联系的重要纽带
For many residents in remote villages, the weekly market is a lifeline to the outside world.
对许多偏远村庄的居民来说，每周的集市是与外界联系的重要纽带。
Zedd《The Middle》中的歌词：我正处在一个关口，紧紧抓住一条生命线。
When you feel like you're drowning, a kind word can be a lifeline.
当你感到快要被淹没时，一句善意的话可能就是一根救命索。
Use lifeline naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：life（生命）+ line（线）合成 lifeline，手掌上的“生命线”就是一条线。
语域：neutral 常见场景：palm reading、hand analysis、palmistry 此义项指手掌上的生命线，通常用于手相或掌纹分析的场合，属于中性偏专门的说法。日常交谈中也可引申指抽象的“命脉”，但本条目以掌心纹路义为基准，具体需随上下文判断。
The -line words here all end in /laɪn/, and their final /aɪn/ matches the /aɪn/ in lifeline /ˈlaɪˌflaɪn/. Watch out for lookalikes like lifelong or lifetime: they begin with the same life- spelling but do not share this /aɪn/ ending.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.