Danger - Death

Explore English idioms that relate to death, including "bite the dust" and "one foot in the grave".

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to bite the dust

[phrase]

to die or no longer exist

Ex: The outlaw finally bit the dust in a shootout with the sheriff.

to kick the bucket

[phrase]

to die, used humorously

Ex: If I kick the bucket before ninety, I want a complaint filed with someone.

(as) dead as a dodo

[phrase]

(of a person, animal, or plant) certainly not alive or in existence any longer

Ex: By the time the hikers found the snake, it was dead as a dodo.

(as) dead as a doornail

[phrase]

dead without a doubt

Ex: By the time the medics arrived, the driver was dead as a doornail.

(as) dead as mutton

[phrase]

undoubtedly no longer alive or in existence

Ex: By the time the farmer reached the field, the old ram was dead as mutton.

to buy the farm

[phrase]

to cease to be alive

Ex: The pilot bought the farm when the plane went down.

to die in harness

[phrase]

to die before a person retires from their job

Ex: My grandfather died in harness after forty-five years at the factory.

to give up the ghost

[phrase]

to stop living

Ex: The old sailor gave up the ghost just before dawn.

one foot in the grave

[phrase]

the state of being close to death due to old age or a fatal sickness

Ex: After the diagnosis, he felt like he had one foot in the grave.

to lay somebody to rest

[phrase]

to put the body of a person who has died in a tomb or grave during a funeral

Ex: They laid her to rest beside her husband in the village cemetery.

to meet one's Maker

[phrase]

to die, used in a humorous way

Ex: If I try your grandmother's chili again, I may meet my Maker.

to put one's affairs in order

[phrase]

to complete one's unfinished business, such as clearing debts, etc., especially because one is about to die

Ex: After the diagnosis, he began to put his affairs in order.

get one's ticket punched

[sentence]

to lose one's life

Ex: The stuntman nearly got his ticket punched during the car crash scene.

to be done for

[phrase]

to be in a very dangerous situation that one may face death at any moment

Ex: If the rescue team doesn't arrive soon, we're done for.

at death's door

[phrase]

used to describe someone who is about to die

Ex: After the infection spread, he was at death's door for nearly a week.

to live on borrowed time

[phrase]

to be expected to die soon because of a serious illness, terrible accident, etc.

Ex: After the accident, the doctors said he was living on borrowed time.

to drop like flies

[phrase]

(of a large number of people or animals) to die or get sick rapidly

Ex: During the epidemic, people in the village were dropping like flies.

to cash in one's chips

[phrase]

to die, often after a long life or struggle

Ex: After ninety years of hard living, the old gambler finally cashed in his chips.

to pop one's clogs

[phrase]

to stop being alive

Ex: Grandad always joked that he would pop his clogs before paying that bill.

to be pushing up (the) daisies

[phrase]

to no longer be alive

Ex: By the time that debt is paid off, I'll be pushing up daisies.

Danger
Cautiousness	Posing a Risk	Out of Danger	Taking Too Much Risk
Danger & Threat	Asking for Trouble	Conflict & War	Violence
Death

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