qui vive

qui vive  (k vv)

n.

A sentinel's challenge.

Idiom:

on the qui vive

On the alert; vigilant: "a loathsome Dublin politico who is on the qui vive for . . . terrorists" Julian Moynahan.

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[French, (long) live who? (a sentry's challenge to determine a person's political sympathies) : qui, who + vive, third person sing. present subjunctive of vivre, to live.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

qui vive - condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action; "bombers were put on alert during the crisis" alert preparedness, readiness, preparation - the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action); "putting them in readiness"; "their preparation was more than adequate" air alert - the condition in which combat aircraft are airborne and ready for an operation; "aircraft in the Mideast are on air alert" red alert - the highest level of alert when an attack by the enemy seems imminent (or more generally a state of alert resulting from imminent danger) strip alert - a state of readiness for domestic defense aircraft; "the Air Force will keep fighters on strip alert at bases around the country"