Like there's no tomorrow
Meaning
To do something with extreme intensity, urgency, or enjoyment, as if the future is uncertain or irrelevant.
Origin
The notion of living with abandon, seizing the day, is ancient, but the phrase "like there's no tomorrow" truly captured the English imagination in the 20th century. Born from the crucible of global conflicts and profound uncertainty, this idiom became a visceral expression for those who had stared down mortality and decided to embrace life's fleeting moments with fierce intensity. It wasn't merely a philosophical ideal; it was a defiant, urgent mode of existence, seen in the celebratory dances of returning soldiers, the fervent pursuit of passion, or the diligent effort to complete a task, all undertaken with a potent sense that the present was the only guaranteed reality.
Examples
- After hearing the good news, they celebrated like there's no tomorrow, dancing and feasting until dawn.
- He's been working on that project like there's no tomorrow to meet the impossible deadline.