qui vive

qui vive [kee veev] ExamplesWord Origin

1. who goes there? (used as a sentry’s challenge)

Idioms

2. on the qui vive, on the alert; watchful: Special guards were on the qui vive for trespassers.

Origin of qui vive 1720–30; French: literally, (long) live who? (i.e., on whose side are you?) Examples from the Web for qui vive Historical Examples of qui vive

She stands four mortal hours at the entrance of the drawing-room, all the while on the qui-vive.

Woman and Artist

Max O’Rell

Paris would not be Paris if it did not keep us on the qui-vive.

The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912

Lillie DeHegermann-Lindencrone

The people were on the qui-vive and I often had to give up my investigation without marked results.

Crimes of Charity

Konrad Bercovici

At the same instant something moved in the fields to the left, and a shrill voice called: “Qui-vive?”

Lorraine

Robert W. Chambers

He remembered the general character of the river from his former descent, but he had to be on the qui-vive as to details.

A Canyon Voyage

Frederick S. Dellenbaugh

British Dictionary definitions for qui vive qui vive noun

1. on the qui vive on the alert; attentive

Word Origin for qui vive C18: from French, literally: long live who?, sentry’s challenge (equivalent to “To whose party do you belong?” or “Whose side do you support?”) Word Origin and History for qui vive

1726, in on the qui vive “on the alert,” from French qui voulez-vous qui vive? sentinel’s challenge, “whom do you wish to live,” literally “(long) live who?” In other words, “whose side are you on?” (The answer might be Vive la France, Vive le roi, etc.).