can't live with them, can't live without them
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
There is a hopeless, ongoing conflict between annoyance with someone or something and need for that same person or thing.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Không thể sống cùng họ, cũng không thể sống thiếu họ
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
You've got to find the woman that works for you. Because, after all, we can't live with them, can't live without them.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “can't live with them, can't live without them” mean?
There is a hopeless, ongoing conflict between annoyance with someone or something and need for that same person or thing.
Is “can't live with them, can't live without them” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.