Danger - Death

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

Review

Flashcards

Forms

Quiz

Start learning

to bite the dust

[phrase]

to die or no longer exist

Ex: The old gunslinger faced off with the outlaw, and the outlaw was the one who bit the dust.

to kick the bucket

[phrase]

to die, used humorously

Ex: When the old girl finally kicked the bucket there was no mention of yours truly in the will.

(as) dead as a dodo

[phrase]

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

Ex: Look at the trees – the one that fell and got us and the other one beside it – were both due to come down, they were dead as dodos.

(as) dead as a doornail

[phrase]

dead without a doubt

Ex: The cop announced that the body in the dumpster was dead as a doornail.

(as) dead as mutton

[phrase]

undoubtedly no longer alive or in existence

Ex: When the batteries in the remote control died, it was as dead as mutton, and we couldn't change the channel.

to buy the farm

[phrase]

to cease to be alive

Ex: Did you hear that old Walt bought the farm? What a shame—at least he got to spend 92 years on this earth.

to die in harness

[phrase]

to die before a person retires from their job

Ex: My grandfather was very hard working and brave and he died in harness.

to give up the ghost

[phrase]

to stop living

Ex: After a long battle with illness, the elderly man peacefully gave up the ghost in his sleep.

one foot in the grave

[phrase]

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

Ex: At 90 years old, my grandfather often jokes about having one foot in the grave, but he's still quite active.

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: After the funeral service, family and friends gathered at the cemetery to lay their loved one to rest.

to meet one's Maker

[phrase]

to die, used in a humorous way

Ex: After a long and fulfilling life, Mary passed away peacefully, ready to meet her 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 receiving a terminal diagnosis, she began to put her affairs in order by updating her will and arranging her financial matters.

get one's ticket punched

[sentence]

to lose one's life

Ex: After a long and fulfilling life, the elderly man finally got his ticket punched, passing away in his sleep.

to be done for

[phrase]

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

Ex: We all thought we were done for when the boat started to sink.

at death's door

[phrase]

used to describe someone who is about to die

Ex: After the car accident, he was rushed to the hospital, and for a time, it seemed like he was at death's door.

to live on borrowed time

[phrase]

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

Ex: She lived on borrowed time for years before finally receiving a heart transplant.

to drop like flies

[phrase]

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

Ex: In the war zone, soldiers were dying like flies in the fierce combat.

to cash in one's chips

[phrase]

to die, often after a long life or struggle

Ex: After a long and adventurous life, the explorer cashed in his chips, leaving behind a legacy of exploration.

to pop one's clogs

[phrase]

to stop being alive

Ex: Nobody lives in that house since old Roger popped his clogs.

to be pushing up (the) daisies

[phrase]

to no longer be alive

Ex: I hope to live a long, healthy life and avoid pushing up daisies for many more years.

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

Download LanGeek app