life-blood

Tourism is the life-blood of many coastal towns.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Essential fluid or element: "life-blood" refers to the blood regarded as essential to life, often used metaphorically to describe something that is vital for the existence, success, or continuation of something else.
   • Crucial sustaining factor: It denotes the most important or fundamental component that keeps a system, organization, or activity alive and functioning.

Usage Examples

• (Water is the essential element that sustains life in the desert.)
• (Trade and commerce are the vital forces that keep the economy functioning.)
• (The volunteers are the crucial factor that ensures the charity's survival and success.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be the life-blood of something": to be the most important or vital element for something's continued existence.

  • Innovation is the life-blood of a successful technology company. (Innovation is essential for the company's growth and survival.)

• "to drain the life-blood from something": to remove or weaken the essential element that sustains something.

  • Corruption drains the life-blood from a democratic society. (Corruption weakens the fundamental principles that keep democracy alive.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lifeblood (n): a single-word variant, often used interchangeably with "life-blood" in modern English.

  • Education is the lifeblood of a progressive nation. (Education is the essential sustaining factor for national progress.)

• Blood (n): the red fluid in the body; also used metaphorically for lineage or vitality.

  • The blood of the family runs through their veins. (Their lineage and heritage are in their blood.)

Synonyms

• Essence: the fundamental nature or most important quality of something.
• Vital force: the energy or power that sustains life or activity.
• Life source: the origin or supply of what is needed for existence.
• Life force: the animating energy or principle in living beings.

Related Idioms

• The life of the party: a person who is lively and entertaining at a social event.

  • She is always the life of the party with her jokes and stories. (She is the most lively and engaging person at the event.)

• The bread and butter: a person's main source of income or livelihood.

  • Teaching is his bread and butter, but he also paints for fun. (Teaching is his primary means of earning a living.)

• The heart and soul: the most essential or vital part of something.

  • The team's captain is the heart and soul of the squad. (The captain is the most crucial and inspirational member.)