| 单词 | to death |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto death Phrases P1. to death (also unto death (now archaic)). a. As complement expressing a physical consequence: so that the person or animal in question dies. (a) Modifying verbs, esp. verbs expressing violent or persistent action, and sometimes emphasizing verbs already meaning ‘to kill’, as to beat (also stone, †slay, etc.) to death. Also as complement to corresponding agent nouns, as hounder to death, etc. Cf. sense Phrases 2a(a). ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by blow(s) to beat (also stone, slay, etc.) to deathOE to swap to (the) death, of livea1375 to ding to deathc1380 to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)?1562 settle?1611 to bowl (one) to deatha1616 tomahawk1711 stocking1762 out1899 to knock out1903 OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xiii. 135 Þa sende he betwux him fyrene næddran þa totæron ðæs folces fela manna and to deaðe geættrodon. c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Royal) 464 He sloh him wið a stan to deaðe. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12851 And..a-quellen hine to deðen. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Micah vii. 2 A man hunteth his brother to deth. ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 138 Bi strong pursuynge to deþ of alle trewe men. c1475 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 223 (MED) He toke this rightwys kyng..And hym in prison put perpetuelly, Pyned to deth, alas, ful pyteuxly. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 146 The Troiens..Dong hom to dethe. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xcix. sig. Gv A vengfull canker eate him vp to death . View more context for this quotation 1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness iii. xiii. 85 The more Zealous of the people lye in the way to be squeezed to death by the wheels. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1734) II. 353 Some houses fell and crushed their Masters to death. 1735 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. V. 202 He ordered them all to be shot to death with arrows. a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 175 My travellers are fley'd to deid Wi' creels wanchancy, heap'd wi' bread, Frae whilk hing down uncanny nicksticks. 1807 J. Milner Martyrs i. §2. 49 He was..beat to death with cudgels. 1890 H. Morley Eng. Writers VI. iv. 98 They should not be proud, greedy, and intolerant, doers to death of those who say that they can sin. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 28 Oct. 4/2 A plague officer,..while on plague duty, has been stoned to death at Hindupur. 1908 R. Johnson Authors Digest II. 265 Every one of the evil hounders to death of the two friends derived great advantages from their villainy. 1959 Washington Post 15 Aug. a3/1 Two hoodlums were gunned to death on Chicago's West Side today. 1997 J. Owen Camden Girls 8 It takes a long time to choke to death. 2007 S. Dunne Reaper (2009) i. 14 There's been a murder, sir. Some old dear, Strangled and beaten to death. (b) Modifying verbs expressing judicial sentencing or punishment, as to sentence (also judge, †deem, etc.) to death, and corresponding agent nouns. Cf. sense 1d.See also to put to death at Phrases 1d, condemn to death at condemn v. 3. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > sentencing > sentence [verb (transitive)] > sentence to death to sentence (also judge, deem, etc.) to deathOE to escry him, them, etc. to or unto death1477 OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) i. 188 Ða nam þæt iudeisce folc micelne andan ongean his lare, & smeadon hu hi mihton hine to deaðe gedon. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 18 Hig genyþeriað hyne to deaþe [L. condemnabunt eum morte]. c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 36 Beatest us & bindest, & to deað fordemest. a1325 (c1280) Southern Passion (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 2041 (MED) Hi dampnede him to deþe. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 127 Þe date..Steuen to dede was dight. a1500 Eng. Conquest Ireland (Rawl.) (1896) 35 Weryn the Citteseynnes to deth demyd. 1560 J. Knox et al. Buke Discipline in J. Knox Wks. (1848) II. 231 For suche..the Civill swearde aught to punische to death. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. xxxii. 592 The putters of Iesus and of his disciples to death. 1640 D. Lupton Glory of their Times 538 By the hand of envy and tyranny they were judged to death. 1682 J. Flavell Righteous Man's Refuge in Pract. Treat. Fear (new ed.) 179 They were sentenced to death. ?1793 T. Priestley New Hist. Life Jesus Christ xiii. 320 Upon a full hearing, ripe deliberation, and exquisitely-judicial proceeding, we have sentenced this malefactor to death. 1829 P. Allwood Key Rev. St. John II. xii. 551 That Inquisitorial power, which..had been ‘the accuser’, judge, tormentor, and putter-to-death, of so many of the innocent sons and daughters of Britain. 1909 Chatterbox 226/2 I saw..all the noble polity of England arrayed to judge a boy to death for a five-minutes' prank. 2000 Big Issue 17 July 12/3 However, within a year he had been found guilty of murder, in what many felt was a fit-up, and sentenced to death. (c) Modifying adjectives indicating sickness or injury: mortally, fatally; so that death will result; (also in weakened use) seriously, badly. Cf. Phrases 2a(b). ΚΠ 1542 T. Elyot Bibliotheca at Pericles Fynally Pericles beinge sycke vnto death, the noble men commen vnto him to comforte hym. 1593 W. Perkins Two Treat. ii. 87 Paul saith that he was sick to death, that he might not trust in him selfe, but in God who raiseth the dead. 1599 J. Rainolds Overthrow Stage-playes 101 As if Achab being wounded to death with an arrow sticking in his side, should haue said, I am not hurt. 1727 E. Young Universal Passion: Satire V 11 Tho' sick to death, abroad they safely roam. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian x, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 215 Having a beloved child sick to death of the crewels. 1873 De La Salle Monthly Mar. 113/2 He was dragged from the burning pile, burnt and wounded to death. 1922 E. Goulding Fury v. xi. 246 Get a doctor, one of you! He's hurt to death. 1998 C. Barker Galilee vi. xi. 377 He thought of the old man, sick to death but unwilling to die. b. Intensifying verbs or adjectives of feeling: to the last extremity, to the utmost, to the point of physical or nervous exhaustion, beyond endurance, (in weakened sense) extremely, to a high degree, as to frighten (also hate, etc.) to death, sorry (also worried, etc.) to death. Cf. Phrases 2b.See also fed to death at fed adj. 3, sick to death of at sick adj. 5b, to tickle to death at tickle v.1 3, tire to death at tire v.1 7. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > intense emotion > [adverb] > in a deeply affecting manner to deathOE to the deatha1375 to the spleen1568 viscerally1637 heart-piercingly1774 OE tr. Vindicta Salvatoris (Cambr. Univ. Libr.) in J. E. Cross Two Old Eng. Apocrypha (1996) 265 Þa ða cyningas..þæt gehyrdon, hig wæron swyðe gedrefede and to deaðe afærede [L. usque ad mortem]. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 56 My peyne pyneþ me to dede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13070 (MED) Herodias him hated to ded. 1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 241 Clodius is inamoured to dead of a certaine yong woman. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. ii. 1 Grif. How do's your Grace? Kath. O Griffith, sicke to death . View more context for this quotation 1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. ii. 58 The Hereticks abhor me to death. 1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. iii. iii. 112 I'm sad to death, that I must be your Foe. 1711 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 184 He is wurryed to death by those ungrateful nations. 1773 H. Chapone Lett. Improvem. Mind II. 80 A gentleman, who would resent to death, an imputation of falsehood. 1806 R. Bloomfield Wild Flowers 45 Some almost laugh'd themselves to dead. 1830 J. Banim Denounced II. 273 Tell her I am sorry to death, and send my petition to see her. 1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xxii. 59 My stars, Simmun!.. You frighten me to death! 1889 L. B. Walford Stiff-necked Generation xxix. 342 Keep it dark,..or we shall have the poor girl bothered to death. 1932 A. Christie Peril at End House iii. 40 I have been worried to death. Everybody's been telling me I'm nervy. 1969 S. Harris Puritan Jungle x. 191 They're what we call ‘closet cases’, hiding and scared to death of exposure. 1997 A. Lamott Crooked Little Heart (1998) iii. 264 I'm sorry! I'm fucking sorry to death! Okay? c. to do to death: (a) to kill violently (now archaic and rare); (b) colloquial to repeat too often or ad nauseam, overdo. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (transitive)] swevec725 quelmeOE slayc893 quelleOE of-falleOE ofslayeOE aquellc950 ayeteeOE spillc950 beliveOE to bring (also do) of (one's) life-dayOE fordoa1000 forfarea1000 asweveOE drepeOE forleseOE martyrOE to do (also i-do, draw) of lifeOE bringc1175 off-quellc1175 quenchc1175 forswelta1225 adeadc1225 to bring of daysc1225 to do to deathc1225 to draw (a person) to deathc1225 murder?c1225 aslayc1275 forferec1275 to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird)c1275 martyrc1300 strangle1303 destroya1325 misdoa1325 killc1330 tailc1330 to take the life of (also fro)c1330 enda1340 to kill to (into, unto) death1362 brittena1375 deadc1374 to ding to deathc1380 mortifya1382 perisha1387 to dight to death1393 colea1400 fella1400 kill out (away, down, up)a1400 to slay up or downa1400 swelta1400 voida1400 deliverc1400 starvec1425 jugylc1440 morta1450 to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bierc1480 to put offc1485 to-slaya1500 to make away with1502 to put (a person or thing) to silencec1503 rida1513 to put downa1525 to hang out of the way1528 dispatch?1529 strikea1535 occidea1538 to firk to death, (out) of lifec1540 to fling to deathc1540 extinct1548 to make out of the way1551 to fet offa1556 to cut offc1565 to make away?1566 occise1575 spoil1578 senda1586 to put away1588 exanimate1593 unmortalize1593 speed1594 unlive1594 execute1597 dislive1598 extinguish1598 to lay along1599 to make hence1605 conclude1606 kill off1607 disanimate1609 feeze1609 to smite, stab in, under the fifth rib1611 to kill dead1615 transporta1616 spatch1616 to take off1619 mactate1623 to make meat of1632 to turn up1642 inanimate1647 pop1649 enecate1657 cadaverate1658 expedite1678 to make dog's meat of1679 to make mincemeat of1709 sluice1749 finisha1753 royna1770 still1778 do1780 deaden1807 deathifyc1810 to lay out1829 cool1833 to use up1833 puckeroo1840 to rub out1840 cadaverize1841 to put under the sod1847 suicide1852 outkill1860 to fix1875 to put under1879 corpse1884 stiffen1888 tip1891 to do away with1899 to take out1900 stretch1902 red-light1906 huff1919 to knock rotten1919 skittle1919 liquidate1924 clip1927 to set over1931 creasea1935 ice1941 lose1942 to put to sleep1942 zap1942 hit1955 to take down1967 wax1968 trash1973 ace1975 the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > be or become wearied or bored with [verb (transitive)] > make wearisome or tedious > specific through repetition trasha1670 to do to death1876 c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) 972 Ichulle..don þe to deaðe. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 3581 So mani to ded þer he dede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13961 Þe Iues..soght ihesu at do to ded. 1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 340 Iack Cade..did to death the Lord Say, and others. 1648 D. Lloyd Legend Capt. Iones Continued 34 That one who at one breath Don Dego and Gonzago did to death. 1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) II. viii. 302 That brother had been done to death by English traitors. 1876 Appletons' Jrnl. 1 Jan. 48/1 That subject has been done to death by inferior pens. 1909 W. S. Sparrow Hints on House Furnishing ii. iii. 134 Diapered patterns for wall-papers and carpets..were ‘done to death’. 1932 C. Fuller Louis Tregart's Trek 26 They were done to death by an impi of Zulu warriors. 1965 New Statesman 16 Apr. 605/1 It [sc. a tune] was mercilessly done to death by countless performers. 2008 D. Cassidy Accidentally Dead 19 Quit with the ‘I don't need anybody’ crap. You've done it to death. d. to put to death: to kill, esp. as a sentence at the end of a judicial process; to execute. ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > execute [verb (transitive)] slayc1175 to put to deatha1450 to hang, draw, and quarter1465 strikec1480 execute1483 justify1531 execution1565 scaffold1716 to have or get one's gruel1797 a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Merlin (1904) I. l. 1294 (MED) That schal neuere lyn Jn thy powere My modyr to deth to putten. 1504 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1504 §21. m. 18 They were..overcome and dyvers put to deth. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 180 The knightes..The pepull with pyne puttyn to dethe. 1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes iii. §60. 295 Ministers of Justice in putting capitall malefactors to death. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1734) II. 189 By the Portian Law, no Citizen could be put to Death for any Crime whatsoever. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1749 I. 106 She was carried off to be put to death behind the scenes. 1847 G. Grote Hist. Greece IV. ii. xxxiv. 352 They were all put to death. 1910 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 15 434 The Makhelchel and Nishinam Indians of California formerly put their women to death for marrying or committing adultery with white men. 1963 M. L. King Strength to Love x. 79 He was put to death..as a martyr for Christ in Rome. 2008 C. Newkey-Burden in J. Burchill & C. Newkey-Burden Not in my Name 47 When a mass-murdering dictator was put to death for his crimes, suddenly the death sentence was barbaric. e. to bleed to death: to bleed so much that one dies. Also figurative. ΚΠ c1450 in T. Austin Two 15th-cent. Cookery-bks. (1888) 116 Lete a fesaunt..blede to deth..& kutt a-wey the necke by the body. 1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. ix. 482 Will not the dread of dolefull day..by litle and litle cut quite the throte of it, and make it bleede to death in vs? 1648 J. Raymond Itinerary Voy. Italy 95 [A statue of] Seneca bleeding to death, of Jet. 1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1778 II. 243 Johnson: It is a sad thing for a man..to bleed to death, because he has not fortitude enough to sear the wound. 1872 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia (new ed.) viii. 118 The arteries being divided, the animal would quickly bleed to death. 1936 ‘R. Hyde’ Passport to Hell 119 The men crept away into their dug-outs and bled to death. 2005 S. Rushdie Shalimar the Clown 4 The ambassador was slaughtered on her doorstep like a halal chicken dinner, bleeding to death from a deep neck wound. f. As complement to verbs, adjectives, and nouns: until death; = to the death ( Phrases 2c). ΚΠ c1475 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 153 (MED) There they faught to deth, as they that naturall pitee had of thaire frendys and cuntrey. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. xliii We be not of so small a courage but that we wyll fight to death to obteyne right and iustice. 1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia iv. sig. G1v He for Monarchie, Made fight to death with show of liberty. 1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida Induct. sig. A4 By..the resplendent fulgor of this steele, I will defende the feminine to death. 1624 T. Gataker Christian Constancy 3 What is here said of being faithfull to death, is in the next Epistle, called the keeping of his workes to the end. 1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 337 A louse and a flea..are creatures that hate each other as much as spiders do, and fight to death when they meet. 1789 W. Williams Primitive Hist. ii. v. 347 They would persist in the struggle to death to avoid suspicion of timidity. 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ix, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 265 Laying schemes for massacring men on Palm Sunday, as if he were backing a Welsh main, where all must fight to death. 1874 T. W. Holme Poems & Prose 27 The mother..Presses that hard and horny hand of toil, Honest to death. 1921 Guide to Nature (Agassiz Assoc.) Feb. 134/2 Two of the full-grown female opossums fought to death, both dying from bites and gashes in the sides. 2001 J. E. Everson Ital. Romance Epic in Age of Humanism ii. iii. 68 Polynices formed his band of brothers united in a war to death. g. to beat (also flog) to death figurative: to repeat too often or ad nauseam; to overdo.For literal use of to beat to death see Phrases 1a(a). See also Phrases 1c(b). ΚΠ 1904 Inverell (New S. Wales) Argus 23 July 2/6 That matter had been flogged to death. (Voice: ‘Yes, let it drop!’). 1948 N.Y. Times 15 Nov. x5/3 He expects his projected picture..to be the first of a cycle of films about post-war Japan which will ultimately ‘beat the subject to death, cinematically’. 1989 Q Dec. 170/4 Rather than flogging one idea to death, as so many punk bands did, Swell Maps could be a light-hearted, shambolic pop group. 2004 Washington Post 11 Sept. (Home ed.) a19/2 It is frustrating to see sportswriters and legal experts alike beat ‘celebrity trials’ to death. P2. to the death. a. As complement expressing a physical consequence. (a) Modifying verbs, esp. verbs expressing violent or persistent action: so that the person or animal in question dies; = to death ( Phrases 1a(a)). ΚΠ a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3591 Of ðo ðe weren to ðis red .xxx. hundred to ðe dead Woren ðane don. 1397 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1397/2 He sal be condampnit to the deid. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) i. pr. iii. l. 204 For þei semeden philosophres, þei weren pursued to þe deeþ and slayn. a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 230 A strong þeef and loksmyth..he was juged to þe deth. a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) i. xxiii. f. 20v Nero..Dioclician and..othir..purseweres, þat in þat tyme enforsed them to vnscrippe pilgrymes..and elles..putte hem to the deth. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 207 The toun was takon..The kyng & his knightes kild to the dethe. 1563 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 95 To baneis Christianis..and condemne thame to the dethe. 1609 Sir T. Smith's Common-wealth (rev. ed.) iii. xxviii. 96 Impoysoners..shall bee boyled to the death. c1626 H. Bisset Rolment Courtis (1922) II. 168/31 He wes slane..sittand in jugement quhen he wes persewand trew men to the death for there..geir. c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 354 Ane of the..soldiouris..is hangit to the death. 1677 A. Marvell Acct. Growth Popery 10 The Pope..does persecute those to the death who dare worship the Author of their Religion instead of his pretended Vicegerent. 1722 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. II. iii. ii. 58 They alledged the King had..ruined the covenanted Work of Reformation, and the Liberties of the Nation, persecuted to the Death the Owners of both, [etc.]. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy ii When he [sc. an attorney] was obliged..to hunt his man to the death. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxviii. 113 When those monster birds..his arrow Smote to the death. 1917 Amer. Lutheran Surv. 2 May 56/1 There never was a day when the Jews were not persecuted, harassed and hounded to the death. 2012 R. R. Parameswaran I am Executioner 35 She stabbed him to the death, bloodied up whole of the room. (b) Modifying adjectives: mortally, fatally; also in weakened use; = to death ( Phrases 1a(c)). ΚΠ 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 173 (MED) He praizeþ lite his helþe þet him-zelue yziȝþ zik al to þe dyaþe and naȝt ne wilneþ zone to by hol. c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 2697 The beest, wounded to the deth, felle on this Eleazare. c1450 (?c1400) Three Kings Cologne (Cambr. Ee.4.32) (1886) 12 (MED) Ezechias was syke to þe dethe. 1589 T. Nashe Anat. Absurditie sig. Biiv These men..teare that peecemeale wise, which long since by ancient wryters was wounded to the death. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 157 Zouns, I bleed still, I am hurt, to the death. 1741 R. Rawlin Christ Righteousness of his People v. 205 So must we, when wounded to the death by sin, look to the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon, healing and life. 1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous v, in Tales of my Landlord (1832) 4th Ser. IV. 53 He may be sick to the death for aught I know. 1882 P. F. Garrett Authentic Life Billy, the Kid x. 50 Hurt to the death, this brave fellow was not conquered, but lived to wreak deadly vengeance on the hunters. 1942 Rotarian June 12/3 A world hurt to the death and so much in need of healing, understanding, and fellowship. 1995 J. L. Cunningham Sark (2000) i. 8 He suddenly fell sick to the death from poisoning by oysters. b. Intensifying verbs or adjectives of feeling: = to death ( Phrases 1b).In quot. 1673: in a particularly unfavourable way, very badly. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > intense emotion > [adverb] > in a deeply affecting manner to deathOE to the deatha1375 to the spleen1568 viscerally1637 heart-piercingly1774 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 953 He was a-drad to þe deþ, last sche him dere wold. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxvi. 38 My soule is sorowful til to the deth. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 217 The which Castell the king hated to the death. 1650 Man in Moon 16 Jan. 309 The Venetians, Germans, Swedes, and Polonians..now hate English men to the death. 1673 J. Dryden Marriage a-la-Mode v. i. 70 And she takes it to the death? 1705 R. Traill Lord's Prayer ii. 27 God foresaw that he would..hate to the Death his Godly Brother. 1847 New Sporting Mag. Nov. 371 The poor devil who was frightened to the death by Ann Nelson's opposition. 1876 Notes & Queries 23 Dec. 515/1 Quarrels were picked with him; he was thwarted and worried to the death. 1957 A. Rand Atlas Shrugged iii. v. 932 He knew that he was afraid of this place, afraid to the death. 1998 I. Lawrence Wreckers (1999) v. 45 They'll be worried to the death about you. c. As complement to verbs, adjectives, or nouns: (that lasts) until death, to the end of one's life, until the death of one or all of those in question, as to defend (also fight, etc.) to the death, faithful (also valiant, etc.) to the death, duel (also war, etc.) to the death. Sometimes hyperbolical. Cf. Phrases 1f. ΚΠ a1500 (?c1450) Merlin viii. 122 These shull the [= thee] love and serue euer to the deth. 1546 Wycklyffes Wycket sig. A.ii In greate sufferaunce of persecusyon euen to the death. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 275 With such speeches he fought vnto the death. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. iii. 65 You are both sure, and wil assist me? Conr. To the death my Lord. View more context for this quotation 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iv. 157 Taxing the poore king of treason, who denied to the death not to know of any such matter. 1651 S. Clarke Gen. Martyrologie xxxvii. 329 Through Gods mercy, he continued faithful to the death. 1713 C. Place Heretical Char. xiii. 292 To..make Men constant to the Death, and not fall away in Times of Persecution. 1795 R. P. Ward Enq. into Found. & Hist. Law of Nations in Europe II. xiii. 16 To fight to the death, was supposed to be absolutely inexpiable. 1826 W. Godwin Hist. Commonw. Eng. II. ii. xxvi. 681 His was a war to the death, and therefore had the utmost aggravation that can belong to a war against the liberty of a nation. 1868 R. H. Major Life Prince Henry of Portugal ii. 16 In the right wing was a goodly band of gentlemen who..had resolved to defend to the death the spot on which they might be placed. 1917 R. Viviani in D. E. Watkins & R. E. Williams Forum of Democracy 132 We were upholding with our incomparable allies—faithful and valiant to the death..—a struggle for the violated rights of man. 1950 A. White Lost Traveller iii. ii. 129 Anyone would think you were fighting a duel to the death instead of playing a game. 1961 R. M. Dashwood Provincial Daughter 158 I will defend to the death my right to be a Floating Voter. 1989 R. G. McGrath in T. R. Gurr Violence in Amer. (new ed.) I. v. 132 Men fought men with fists, knives, and guns, and they often fought to the death. 2010 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 May w9/4 Which one would have won in a battle to the death. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] forsweltc888 sweltc888 adeadeOE deadc950 wendeOE i-wite971 starveOE witea1000 forfereOE forthfareOE forworthc1000 to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE queleOE fallOE to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE to shed (one's own) blood?a1100 diec1135 endc1175 farec1175 to give up the ghostc1175 letc1200 aswelta1250 leavea1250 to-sweltc1275 to-worthc1275 to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290 finea1300 spilla1300 part?1316 to leese one's life-daysa1325 to nim the way of deathc1325 to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330 flit1340 trance1340 determinec1374 disperisha1382 to go the way of all the eartha1382 to be gathered to one's fathers1382 miscarryc1387 shut1390 goa1393 to die upa1400 expirea1400 fleea1400 to pass awaya1400 to seek out of lifea1400–50 to sye hethena1400 tinea1400 trespass14.. espirec1430 to end one's days?a1439 decease1439 to go away?a1450 ungoc1450 unlivec1450 to change one's lifea1470 vade1495 depart1501 to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513 to decease this world1515 to go over?1520 jet1530 vade1530 to go westa1532 to pick over the perch1532 galpa1535 to die the death1535 to depart to God1548 to go home1561 mort1568 inlaikc1575 shuffle1576 finish1578 to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587 relent1587 unbreathe1589 transpass1592 to lose one's breath1596 to make a die (of it)1611 to go offa1616 fail1623 to go out1635 to peak over the percha1641 exita1652 drop1654 to knock offa1657 to kick upa1658 to pay nature her due1657 ghost1666 to march off1693 to die off1697 pike1697 to drop off1699 tip (over) the perch1699 to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703 sink1718 vent1718 to launch into eternity1719 to join the majority1721 demise1727 to pack off1735 to slip one's cable1751 turf1763 to move off1764 to pop off the hooks1764 to hop off1797 to pass on1805 to go to glory1814 sough1816 to hand in one's accounts1817 to slip one's breatha1819 croak1819 to slip one's wind1819 stiffen1820 weed1824 buy1825 to drop short1826 to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839 to get one's (also the) call1839 to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840 to unreeve one's lifeline1840 to step out1844 to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845 to hand in one's checks1845 to go off the handle1848 to go under1848 succumb1849 to turn one's toes up1851 to peg out1852 walk1858 snuff1864 to go or be up the flume1865 to pass outc1867 to cash in one's chips1870 to go (also pass over) to the majority1883 to cash in1884 to cop it1884 snuff1885 to belly up1886 perch1886 to kick the bucket1889 off1890 to knock over1892 to pass over1897 to stop one1901 to pass in1904 to hand in one's marble1911 the silver cord is loosed1911 pip1913 to cross over1915 conk1917 to check out1921 to kick off1921 to pack up1925 to step off1926 to take the ferry1928 peg1931 to meet one's Maker1933 to kiss off1935 to crease it1959 zonk1968 cark1977 to cark it1979 to take a dirt nap1981 OE Homily: Be rihtan Cristendome (Hatton 113) in A. S. Napier Wulfstan (1883) 144 And hu he deað underfeng for us, and hu he us alysde fram deoflum and fram hellewite. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) Ded. l. 165 Forr crist toc dæþ o rode tre All wiþþ hiss fulle wille. c1300 All Souls (Laud) l. 311 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 429 Ase he þene deth nam. 1372 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 70 (MED) Suich a detȝ he vnderfeng þat vs helpen may. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 112 (MED) God tok mans kynd for his sake And for his love þe dede wald take. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 653 The Erll off Kent..tuk ded befor the king. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) xii. l. 837 Throuch cowatice gud Ector tuk the ded. P4. to be (a person's) death, to be the death of: to cause (a person's) death, to kill. In later use often hyperbolical or humorous, describing a current situation or future prospect regarded as unpleasant or unbearable. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > cause of death > cause death [verb (transitive)] to be the death ofOE slayc1000 reavec1230 dissolvec1374 visita1382 extinguish1540 expiate1594 to carry away1603 to carry off1679 devive1869 to settle the number of a person's mess1881 OE Blickling Homilies 67 He [sc. Christ] cwæþ, ‘Eala deaþ, ic beo þin deaþ.’ a1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Tanner 346) (1878) l. 226 When that he was glad, then was .I. blithe And his disese was my deth as swithe. c1500 Melusine (1895) lv. 331 (heading) How Geffray was the deth of the Erle of Forestz hys vncle. 1558 P. Morwen tr. A. ben David ibn Daud Hist. Latter Tymes Iewes Commune Weale f. lixv Pheroras was banished the kinges presence, the sorow wherof was his death. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. i. 13 Poore fellow neuer ioied since the prise of Oates rose, it was the death of him. 1662 in Proc. Soc. Antiquaries Scotl. (1888) 22 229 Go west to Bessie Neil and spier at her what she did to your wife and your bairn, for she was baith their deads. 1686 T. Jevon Devil of a Wife i. i. 5 This devilish Termagant Scolding Religious Woman will be the death of him. 1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd ii. ii Her cheeks, her mouth, her een, Will be my dead. 1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 3 A school would be his death. 1816 J. Austen Emma II. iii. 56 Oh! dear, I thought it would have been the death of me! View more context for this quotation 1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. xiv. 224 I've been lamed with orange-peel once, and I know orange-peel will be my death at last. 1863 ‘Ouida’ Held in Bondage I. iii. 63 A mill-wheel monotony would be the death of me. 1956 S. Beckett Waiting for Godot i. 35 Estragon (convulsed with merriment). He'll be the death of me! 1960 Boys' Life Dec. 15/1 Jonathan Cole already knew how it had to be done, also that it might be his death. Lifting his musket, he pulled back gently on the hammer. 2002 R. J. Bailey Far in Hills iv. 40 Those stairs will be the death of me. I gotta give up them ready rolls! P5. second death n. [after post-classical Latin mors secunda (Vulgate) and Hellenistic Greek ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος (New Testament), both in Revelation (2:11, 20:6, 21:8).] Theology the punishment of lost souls after physical death, the state of being damned to eternal suffering. Cf. sense 3a. ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > hell > [noun] > torment of Hell witec825 pineOE wormc1000 woec1175 painc1300 second deathc1384 penancec1395 burning marl1667 penancy1682 torment1852 lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) (2009) I. xix. 283 Hwæt forstent eow þonne se gilp, huru þam þe se æfterra deað [L. secunda mors] gegripð & on ecnesse gehæfð?] c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) Apoc. xxi. 8 The pool brennynge with fijr and brunston, that is the secounde deeth [L. mors secunda]. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 652 (MED) Þe blod..delyuered vus of þe deth secounde. 1536 tr. G. Gnapheus Myrrour for Syke sig. Mi I wyll graunte it ryght wel that we shal all ryse agayne at the daye of dome, nor in that am not I tempted: but I am more afrayed of the seconde, and eternall death. 1569 A. Golding tr. N. Hemmingsen Postill (new ed.) f. 128v Blissed and holy is he that hath his part in the first resurrection: for vpon them hath the second death no power. 1611 Bible (King James) Rev. xxi. 8 The lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death . View more context for this quotation 1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 61 Is not the State of Hell in Scripture called the Second Death? 1714 T. Swinden Enq. Nature & Place of Hell xi. 244 The second Death, the Death of the Soul, consisteth in its Separation from God, the Life of Rational Nature. 1802 N. Douglas Antidote against Deism ii. 27 If the Lord himself has not excluded the second death and its grave, what right have we to exclude them? 1875 E. White Life in Christ (1876) iv. xxvii. 486 This second death is never set forth as a sacrament of immortality. 1921 Rec. Christian Work Dec. 1003/1 The second death is a death of which the first death, the physical death, now destroyed, was but a faint figure. 2011 F. Pride Blossoming of Christianity v. xiii. 324 The second death, which the scriptures indicate will be carried out a thousand years from now..and is the death that will truly represent a finality. P6. a. (as) sure as death and variants: absolutely certainly. ΚΠ a1450 Partonope of Blois (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) l. 6999 And in this wyse Crystened was he, As syker as deth wyth-outen nay. c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 502 But this as soothe as deth certeyne Hyt was of golde. 1594 Taming of a Shrew sig. E4v Trust me kate hadst thou not named the moone, We had gon back againe as sure as death. 1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor i. iv. sig. D2 They would giue out..That I were iealous: nay, as sure as death, Thus they would say. View more context for this quotation 1692 R. Ames Sylvia's Complaint 4 Sure as Death, it [sc. flattery] certainly Destroys. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xix. 208 As sure as death there is our master and mistress come home. 1831 S. E. Ferrier Destiny II. xiv. 176 O, as sure as death, then, that's just owning that you are going to be married. 1876 D. Macleod Life N. Macleod I. iii. 31 (note) Bell said, ‘Maybe ye're richt; but, sure as death, Norman, I canna thole [bear] a fule!’ 1958 J. Kesson White Bird Passes i. 14 I got two bob from Mysie Walsh. As sure as death I did. Look at it. 1995 D. Dunnett To Lie with Lions xxxiv. 436 Sure as death, Simon will come when he hears. b. Proverb. nothing is certain but death and taxes and variants. Also shortened as death and taxes. ΚΠ 1724 E. Ward Dancing Devils 43 Nothing is sure i'th' course of Fortune, But Death and Taxes, they are certain. 1789 B. Franklin Let. 13 Nov. in Private Corr. (1817) 266 In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. 1844 Amer. Turf Reg. Feb. 71 That every gamekeeper in the cover..would be roused up by it, seemed as certain as death and taxes. 1878 Sullivan County (Indiana) Union 10 July 1/2 The man who is responsible for the saying that ‘nothing is certain but death and taxes’, must surely have been a godless wordling. 1956 Life 2 Apr. 19/2 Nothing is certain but death and taxes—and if we dwelled only on these things, life would be pretty cheerless. 2002 Observer 3 Nov. (Sport Monthly Suppl.) 58/1 In recent times, Ashes defeats for England have joined death and taxes [in] terms of certainty. P7. (a fate) worse than death and variants: a terrible misfortune, a disastrous experience or situation; now often hyperbolical; (formerly sometimes) spec. loss of virginity, rape. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > loss of chastity > [noun] > of woman shamec1275 ruin1567 (a fate) worse than death1631 1631 W. Lisle Faire Æthiopian 10 By tempest tost, with roaring billowes shaken, And, fearing worse than death, by pyrats taken. 1684 J. Banks Island Queens i. i. 2 'Tis worse than Death for me to hear A fawning Cringer, or submissive Praiser. 1716 J. Johnston Panegyrical Ess. 10 Condemned him to worse than Death.., viz. to Poverty, and perpetual Imprisonment. 1810 J. Porter Sc. Chiefs III. iii. 68 But where was he who had delivered herself from a worse fate than death? 1894 H. R. Haggard People of Mist vi. 40 It is the custom of my mistress to carry a portion of this poison hidden in her hair, since a time might come when she must use it to save herself from worse than death. 1914 E. R. Burroughs Tarzan of Apes xix. 252 [The ape] threw her roughly across his broad, hairy shoulders and leaped back into the trees, bearing Jane Porter away toward a fate a thousand times worse than death. 1952 ‘C. Brand’ London Particular vii. 95 Madonna Lily was obviously marked up for a double dose of Worse than Death. 1991 K. Vonnegut Fates worse than Death xv. 144 A female's loss of virginity outside of holy wedlock was sometimes spoken of as a fate worse than death. 2008 E. Harrison Best Girl 235 She'd saved me from a fate worse than death—being dateless. P8. like death. a. (a) Esp. with to look, to feel: extremely pale, ill, or exhausted. ΚΠ 1643 H. Burton Narration of Life 16 I was taken with a terrible fit of the Collick, so as Lawrence comming up, told me I lookt like death. 1707 Fifteen Plagues of Maiden-Head 5 Of late I wonder what's with me the Matter, For I look like Death and am as weak as Water. 1765 D. Garrick Sick Monkey 14 Pug sickens, mopes, and looks like death, Speaks faintly, and scarce draws his breath. 1828 J. Nichols in Alleine on Promises 22 He was..a sad spectacle of weakness, and looked like death. 1855 C. L. Gascoigne Next-door Neighbours I. xv. 323 ‘You sometimes look like death, child!’ She could have told him, she often felt like death, too. 1910 L. A. Wilder in A. S. Roe Melvin Memorial 35 He was like death, and he could hardly speak. 1921 M. McClelland Kaleema xxvi. 250 ‘I don't know what ails me tonight,’ she said to her mother. ‘I feel like death.’ 1997 J. Hawes Rancid Aluminium (1998) xx. 254 About fifty western businessmen in overnighted, jet-lagged suits, looking like death. (b) colloquial. In elaborated forms like death warmed up, (chiefly U.S.) like death warmed over. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased untrumc825 sickc888 unwholec888 slackc897 unstronga900 sicklea1000 sam-halea1023 worseOE attaint1303 languishinga1325 heallessc1374 sicklyc1374 sicklewa1387 bada1393 mishalea1400 languoring?c1425 distempered1440 unwell?c1450 detent?a1475 poora1475 languorousc1475 maladif1481 illa1500 maladiousc1500 wanthriven1508 attainted1509 unsound1513 acrazed1521 cracked1527 unsoundya1529 visited1537 infirmed1552 crazed1555 healthless1568 ill-liking1572 afflicted1574 crazy1576 unhealthful1580 sickish1581 valetudinary1581 not well1587 fainty1590 ill-disposed1596 unhealthsome1598 tainted1600 ill-affected1604 peaking1611 unhealthy1611 infirmited1616 disaffected1626 physical1633 illish1637 pimping1640 invalid1642 misaffected1645 valetudinarious1648 unhale1653 badly1654 unwholesome1655 valetudinous1655 morbulent1656 off the hooksa1658 mawkish1668 morbid1668 unthriven1680 unsane1690 ailing1716 not wellish1737 underlya1742 poorly1750 indifferent1753 comical1755 maladized1790 sober1808 sickened1815 broken-down1816 peaky1821 poorlyish1827 souffrante1827 run-down1831 sicklied1835 addle1844 shaky1844 mean1845 dauncy1846 stricken1846 peakyish1853 po'ly1860 pindling1861 rough1882 rocky1883 suffering1885 wabbit1895 icky-boo1920 like death warmed up1924 icky1938 ropy1945 crappy1956 hanging1971 sick as a parrot1982 shite1987 1924 B. Ruck in Chicago Tribune 28 Mar. 21 How can any one start feeling intrigued..when they are only that minute over feeling like death warmed up with flu? 1940 Middlesboro (Kentucky) Daily News 25 May 3/5 A lady with a lorgnette—she looked like death warmed over—listened to me yodel. 1941 N. Marsh Death & Dancing Footman ii. 40 I look like death warmed up and what I feel is nobody's business. 1945 Life 16 Apr. 26/2 A U.S. liaison officer described these half-starved prisoners as ‘men who look like death warmed over’. 1964 J. Pendower Sinister Talent xx. 185 It damned near killed me... I still feel like death warmed up. 2006 C. Langston Bicoastal Babe ii. 15 You look like death warmed over. b. colloquial. Also like grim death. Frequently with to hold on, to hang on, etc.: with great determination or tenacity.Originally with allusion to death personified; cf. sense 1c. ΚΠ 1786 R. Burns Poems 25 Then Burnewin comes on like Death, At ev'ry chap. 1804 Lit. Mag. & Amer. Reg. June 178/1 Some one, in order to illustrate the obstinacy with which a bailiff adhered to an ill-fated debtor, observed, that he stuck to him like grim Death to a dead cat. 1821 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 5/1 Hadding on by the rail like grim death. 1855 J. A. Maitland Watchman xxix. 210 That ere foolish idee o' mine clung fast hold on to me like grim death to a marlin' spike. 1867 Illustr. Mag. 23 118/1 He clung to the poacher like grim death. a1903 B. Herford Serm. Courage & Cheer (1908) i. 2 An encouragement to them to persevere like grim death. 1928 D. L. Sayers Unpleasantness at Bellona Club ix. 112 If ever you see him again,..freeze on to him like grim death. 1964 Life 27 Nov. 112/3 You hung on like death and hoped that your end would be painless. 2007 C. Stross Halting State (2008) 140 She ducks, still holding on to her hilts like grim death. c. Chiefly U.S. to feel like death: to be experiencing a strong negative emotion, as fear, distress, remorse, anger, etc. ΚΠ 1821 J. G. Percival Poems 230 Methought I heard The tread of midnight murderers; then despair Rush'd o'er my feelings and I felt like death. 1839 N.-Y. Mirror 16 Mar. 301/1 I felt like death to think I had hurt aunt Jane's feelings so much about it. 1899 Frank Leslie's Pop. Monthly Dec. 208 I wish Robert's broken engagement could be made up as easy, for his ma and I feel like death about it. 1944 G. S. Patton Jrnl. 1 May in Patton Papers (1974) II. xxiv. 451 I feel like death, but I am not out yet. If they will let me fight, I will. 1996 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 15 Aug. 24 She still feels ‘like death’ about the incident. P9. death or glory. a. Used, often as a motto, to express high-minded, if reckless, courage in battle or some other endeavour (now chiefly historical). ΚΠ 1705 M. Pix Conquest of Spain iii. 27 These Martial Sounds fire my high wrought Blood, And animates my Soul to Death or Glory. 1746 Gentleman's Mag. 15 following Pref. Each Greek became an hero at her voice, And death, or glory, was the gen'ral choice. 1818 J. Campbell Naval Hist. Great Brit. VII. xxxi. 477 The whole ship's company..wrote on their guns in chalk, ‘Bellerophon! death or glory!’ 1884 G. T. Napier Passages in Early Mil. Life i. 6 Never shall I forget the excitement with which I read on my helmet the motto ‘Death or Glory’. 1913 J. M. Barrie Quality St. i. 15 If you were one of them, ma'am, and death or glory was the call, you would take the shillings, ma'am. 1959 F. C. Mather Public Order in Age of Chartists i. 23 Headed by a man who called out, ‘March. Death or Glory! The town's our own’, they chased the Deputy Constable over the Gas House wall. 2005 P. Dowswell Powder Monkey (2006) xii. 233 ‘Let's give it a try.’.. ‘Death or glory!’ said Richard. b. attributive (usually hyphenated). (a) Designating members of a regiment or other force whose motto or characterizing attitude is ‘death or glory’; spec. (historical) the 17th Lancers (see also quot. 1890); (b) recklessly courageous, high-mindedly martial; (in wider sense) brave to the point of foolhardiness, committed to a course of action regardless of the consequences.In quot. 1780 the name of the vessel. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > [adjective] > qualities or attributes steadfast993 sharpc1000 forfoughtenc1275 austere?a1400 tolerable1555 flesheda1626 steady1670 death or glory1806 the mind > emotion > courage > daring > reckless daring > [adjective] audacious1550 saucy1609 daredevil1832 death or glory1840 James Bondish1966 James Bond1967 1780 in Calcutta Rev. (1860) 35 187 The ‘Death or Glory’ privateer..will leave Calcutta in few days on a five months' cruise against the Dutch, French and Spaniards.] 1806 Naval Chron. 16 212 Buonaparté's Death or Glory Lads, (a choice regiment of his so called), could not stand the brunt. 1822 R. G. Wallace 15 Years in India xvii. 301 The 17th dragoons..are styled the ‘death or glory boys’. 1840 J. Patterson Camp & Quarters I. iii. 67 She..was..unqualified for the ‘death or glory club’ she frequented every soirée. 1854 H. Schallehn (title) Death or glory galop. 1855 Hogg's Instructor 4 425/1 As usual in all such mad death-or-glory expeditions, there were plenty of volunteers immediately. 1890 J. S. Farmer Slang I. 199/1 The 17th [Lancers] are still well-known as the Death or Glory Boys, from their badge, which consists of a death's head, with the words, ‘or glory’. 1922 H. Vardon Gist of Golf iv. 77 There are occasions when one has to make a death-or-glory effort. 1962 Guardian 20 Dec. 6/1 Sir Roy Welensky's death-or-glory approach to political problems. 1998 P. O'Brian Hundred Days v. 148 Do not take me for a bloody-minded man,..a death-or-glory swashbuckling cove. 2011 Hist. Brit. & Ireland: Definitive Guide 302/1 (caption) Battle of Elands River. The ‘Death or Glory Boys’ of the 17th Lancers live up to their nickname in Richard Caton Woodville's iconic painting. P10. a. at the death: (Hunting) at the point when game is caught and killed; (figurative) at the crucial or last possible moment; at the very end. Frequently in to be in at the death. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > hunt specific animal [verb (intransitive)] > hunt fox > be present when fox killed to be in at the death1751 1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle I. viii. 61 He was the first in at the death of the deer. 1788 W. Cowper Let. 3 Mar. (1982) III. 119 I have been In at the death of a Fox. 1800 W. Windham Speeches Parl. (1812) I. 337 For the empty fame of being in at the death. 1841 E. Bulwer-Lytton Night & Morning III. v. ix. 243 A skilful huntsman..who generally contrived to be in at the death. 1906 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 10 Feb. 5/2 The plot of this odd story wanders off.., leaving the reader to guess what has become of the man who set out to be the hero. However, he comes in all right at the death. 1933 N. Coward Design for Living ii. iii. 71 You have a tremendous sense of the ‘right moment’, Ernest. It's wonderful. You pop up like a genie out of a bottle, just to be in at the death! 1995 Times 25 Sept. 34/7 Tries in the last ten minutes for Damian Hopley, Mike White and, at the death, Ryan. 2002 N. W. Proctor Bathed in Blood ii. 52 After cutting off the tail..he tossed the fox back to the dogs and presented the trophy to the most remarkable rider who was ‘in at the death’. b. British slang. in the death: in the end, finally. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > the end [phrase] > in the end or at last at lastlOE at the lastlOE afinec1325 in the lasta1382 for conclusionc1386 an-endc1390 the lasta1400 in (the) finea1500 at conclusiona1513 in conclusiona1513 at long last1523 at length1525 in (rarely at, upon) the upshot1577 in the final (also last) analysis1786 in the death1958 at the end of the day1974 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights 172 In the death this geezer got a reprieve. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers xvi. 157 After all, you had to marry someone in the death. P11. death before dishonour, better death than dishonour and variants: used, typically as a motto, to express the notion that it is preferable to die than to submit to an experience considered to bring shame or disgrace to oneself or others. ΚΠ 1761 Life & Extraordinary Hist. J. Taylor I. viii. 52 The Doctor seemed still a Friend to Peace; but Dove had hectored and behaved so rude, that his Spirit could not brook it; Death before Dishonour; so fight he would. 1806 J. Davis Post-Captain ix. 51 I will put up my sword in the presence of women; but I shall find time and place. Death before dishonour. 1862 ‘Johannes Scotus’ Weird of Wentworths I. xxii. 237 Before Ellen Ravensworth submits to wrong she will bury this in her heart—death before dishonour. 1904 B. Russell in Mind 13 522 We may imagine a rhetorically minded soldier in battle saying to himself: ‘To advance is to die, to retreat is dishonour; better death than dishonour.’ 1963 Winnipeg Free Press 15 June 1/3 He has a tattoo on his left forearm, showing a skull and crossbones with the words ‘Death before Dishonour’ written underneath. 2011 Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) (Nexis) 3 Apr. We need all the patriots, the resistance, to take to the streets. There are times when death is better than dishonour. P12. death to ——!: used (esp. in slogans or chants by crowds in political contexts) to express a desire to kill or eradicate a specified person or thing. Also used humorously and in weakened sense. [In early use with reference to France after French mort à ——!, as used in various revolutionary slogans, e.g. mort aux rois! death to the monarchy!, mort aux tyrans! death to the tyrants! (both 1792 or earlier), etc.] ΚΠ 1792 Times 18 July 2/2 Ça ira then sing, And death to the King. 1794 Universal Mag. Feb. 146/2 Here all the representatives rose and took the oath, Death to the Tyrants! 1807 Weekly Inspector (N.Y.) 15 Aug. 400/2 Oh! death to the Traitor who caus'd our despair! 1869 Irish Times & Daily Advertiser 17 Aug. 3/3 Cries of ‘Long live the Republic and death to the Monarchy’ were raised by the crowd. 1894 W. T. Stead in Westm. Gaz. 7 May 2/1 The watchword of the Coxeyite agitation is ‘Death to the interest-bearing bond!’ 1960 Life 18 July 32/2 The mob was shouting death to Prime Minister Lumumba and death to all whites. 1981 M. Kester in P. Belsito et al. Streetart 47/2 The demonstrators resembled..escapees..from some exotic aviary, brandishing signs that read ‘No Wimp Rock for the 80s’, ‘Death to Hippies’, ‘Down with Disco’. 1992 L. Whisnant Watching TV with Red Chinese (1994) i. iii. 20 Fanatics trash the streets of Tehran, chanting Death to America and burning U.S. flags. P13. U.S. slang. to go one's death: (with on, upon) to give or risk everything (in doing something or in order to gain something). Also with infinitive. Now rare. ΚΠ 1833 D. Crockett Sketches 173 You think they don't go their death upon a jig, but they do. 1833 D. Crockett Sketches 74 My little boys at home will go their death to support my election. 1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 218 I'll go my death upon you at the shooting match. 1868 Scott's Monthly Mag. Oct. 663/1 She would go her death to keep up with our set. 1878 Scribner's Monthly 15 400/1 The consulship at Rio Janeiro is vacant, and being worth $6,000, he is moved to ‘go his death on Rio’. 1977 R. Coover Public Burning 7 Swim or sink, live or die, survive or perish, I'm in fer a fight, I'll go my death on a fight. P14. colloquial (originally U.S.). to be death on (also upon). a. To be highly effective against or in dealing with; to be very severe in the matter of. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be skilled or versed in [verb (transitive)] > be expert at to be death on (also upon)1839 1839 Spirit of Times 5 Oct. 368/3 [His] nose is so red that no musquito can stand the blaze of it. It's death upon gallinipers, too. 1842 Spirit of Times (Philadelphia) 10 Mar. We need not say that this medicine is death on colds. 1892 K. Lentzner Austral. Word-bk. 19 Death on, good at..‘Death on rabbits’, would mean a very good rabbit shot. 1953 Life 26 Jan. 80/3 A trapper who is death on wild game but easy prey for a pretty girl. 2003 in S. Reimer Evangelicals & Continental Divide v. 97 I pastored a church in West Florida, they were death on anything like that, you couldn't have a pool party or anything like that, very strict. b. To be very fond of or keen on. ΚΠ 1852 Western Lit. Messenger Aug. 269/2 There was a boy in this neighborhood who was death on apples, and he was bound to have some of the old man's best. 1884 E. Fawcett Gentleman of Leisure i. 9 Fanny hasn't forgotten you..she was always death on you English chaps. 1892 A. Sykes tr. N. Gogol Inspector-gen. i. ii. 17 I do it from pure curiosity... I'm death on knowing what's going on in the world. 1973 E. Taylor Serpent under It xiv. 215 They rush around taking photographs and making plaster casts and things. Dr. Priestley is death on that stuff. 2006 J. E. Ames Deadwood Gulch 113 ‘Well, I am death on sausage gravy,’ Yancy surrendered. P15. angel of death: see angel of death n. 1 at angel n. Phrases 2. blue screen of death: see blue screen n. 2. to catch one's death (of cold): see catch v. 18. death by a thousand cuts: see thousand n. and adj. 2b. kiss of death: see kiss n. 6a. life after death: see life n. Phrases 10d. on pain of death: see pain n.1 1b. to pay the death-rent of: see pay v.1 13a. Wall of Death: see wall n.1 Compounds 2a. < as lemmas |
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