Phrase guide

one's days are numbered

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

Some period of time, such as a term of employment or a lifetime, is coming to an end.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If his performance does not improve very soon, his days at this company are numbered.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 來日無多 /来日无多 (lái rì wú duō) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Finnish: päivät ovat luetut — some period of time is coming to an end
  • French: ses jours sont comptés — some period of time is coming to an end
  • German: seine Tage sind gezählt — some period of time is coming to an end
  • German: ihre Tage sind gezählt — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Hebrew: ימיו ספורים (yamáv s'furím) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Hungarian: meg vannak számlálva a napjai — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Icelandic: dagar hans eru taldir — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Icelandic: dagar hennar eru taldir — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Icelandic: dagar þess eru taldir — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Icelandic: dagar þeirra eru taldir — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Italian: avere il tempo contato — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Japanese: 余命いくばくもない (yomei ikubaku mo nai) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Polish: czyjeś dni są policzone — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Portuguese: (estar) com os dias contados — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Russian: его́ дни сочтены́ (jevó dni sočtený) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Russian: её дни сочтены́ (jejó dni sočtený) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Russian: их дни сочтены́ (ix dni sočtený) — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Spanish: tener los días contados — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Spanish: quedarle dos telediarios — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Tagalog: bilang na ang mga araw — some period of time is coming to an end
  • Telugu: రోజులు దగ్గర పడ్డాయి (rōjulu daggara paḍḍāyi) — some period of time is coming to an end