life and/or death a matter of life and death
or a matter of life and death
phraseIf you say that something is a matter of life and death, you are emphasizing that it is extremely important, often because someone may die or suffer great harm if people do not act immediately.
[emphasis] Well, never mind, John, it's not a matter of life and death.
We're dealing with a life-and-death situation here.
It is only a hobby, not a life or death struggle.
See full dictionary entry for death