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qui vive

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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).

[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.]

qui vive [ˌkiː ˈviːv]
n
on the qui vive on the alert; attentive
[from French, literally: long live who?, sentry's challenge (equivalent to ``To whose party do you belong?'' or ``Whose side do you support?'')]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.qui vivequi vive - condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action; "bombers were put on alert during the crisis"
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"
Translations
qui vive [kiːˈviːv] N to be on the qui viveestar alerta
qui vive
n on the qui viveauf dem Quivive (dated), → auf der Hut


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He sat like a man who is perpetually on the qui vive.
We were on the qui vive till daylight, and prepared for the combat.
We're pretty well forward here and we have to keep on the qui vive.
 
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