qui vive

[ kee veev ]

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

qui vive

/ ˌkiː ˈviːv /

noun

1. on the qui vive
   on the alert; attentive

Word History and Origins

Origin of qui vive¹

1720–30; < French: literally, (long) live who? (i.e., on whose side are you?)

Word History and Origins

Origin of qui vive¹

C18: from French, literally: long live who?, sentry's challenge (equivalent to "To whose party do you belong?" or "Whose side do you support?")

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the qui vive, on the alert; watchful:

   Special guards were on the qui vive for trespassers.

Example Sentences

“Like hungry little foxes,” her co-conspirators are “always on the qui vive, looking to squeeze out every bit of fun they could in the thicket of rules and regulations.”

From New York Times

She looked quite stunning as she walked across the dining room to the table, not at all unlike a girl on the qui vive appropriate to a big college weekend.

From Literature

Madeline Grover's breathless story had set every one on the qui vive, and for several minutes everyone was wondering what all the rest would do.

From Project Gutenberg

What she might say next was never certain, and the uncertainty kept him always on the qui vive.

From Project Gutenberg

This put us upon the qui vive; Philip and myself still remained on board the armed vessels, and sending my schooner on ahead, we followed her, one on each quarter.

From Project Gutenberg