命いのちをつなぐ

expression, godan verb (-gu)

survive; keep living; escape death

Often used when someone barely manages to stay alive, or when life is preserved against odds. Can be used literally or figuratively.

See also: 生き続ける (いきつづける)

• 遭そう難なん者しゃはわずかな食しょく料りょうで命いのちをつないだ。

  The survivor kept himself alive on meager food.

• この仕し事ごとでどうにか命いのちをつないでいる。

  I'm barely scraping by with this job.