at the risk of one's lifeAn emphatic expression meaning to do something with one's life at stake, or to swear something with complete sincerity. The subject's possessive pronoun may change depending on context, such as 내 목숨을 걸고 (“with my life at stake”).
KO: 그는 가족을 지키기 위해 목숨을 걸고 싸웠어요.
EN: He fought at the risk of his life to protect his family.