Death is a universal concept that has been explored and expressed in various ways throughout history.
One intriguing aspect is the use of idioms—phrases that convey a figurative meaning different from their literal interpretation.
In this article, we’ll delve into idioms for death, uncovering the meanings behind each expression and using them in sentences to provide a clearer picture.
| Idiom | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Kick the Bucket | To die or pass away. | After a long and fulfilling life, Grandpa finally kicked the bucket peacefully in his sleep. |
| Bite the Dust | To suffer defeat or fail. | The old car finally bit the dust, leaving its owner in need of a new mode of transportation. |
| Meet One’s Maker | To die and face one’s creator in the afterlife. | When the time comes, we’ll all have to meet our maker, but until then, let’s make the most of life. |
| Cash in One’s Chips | To die, often with a sense of finality. | Despite his illness, John faced his last days with courage, ready to cash in his chips. |
| Pushing Up Daisies | Buried in the ground, deceased. | Long after we’re gone, our memories will live on even though our bodies are pushing up daisies. |
| Sleep with the Fishes | To be dead and at the bottom of the sea. | Criminals who betray their partners often end up sleeping with the fishes. |
| Join the Choir Invisible | To be deceased and part of the afterlife. | Believers find solace in the belief that their loved ones have joined the choir invisible. |
| Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil | To die or pass away. | Facing a terminal illness, the old man bravely shuffled off this mortal coil. |
| Take the Last Train | To die. | As the elderly lady peacefully slept, she took the last train to the unknown. |
| Meet One’s End | To reach the end of one’s life. | Facing danger, the hero knew he might meet his end, but he pressed on nonetheless. |
| Go to the Big Sleep | To die. | In his final years, the actor often spoke of going to the big sleep with a smile on his face. |
| Go Six Feet Under | To be buried in the ground. | Once we go six feet under, the worries of this world will cease to exist. |
| Give Up the Ghost | To die or cease to function. | After years of faithful service, the old car finally gave up the ghost on the side of the road. |
| Croak | To die, often used informally. | The ancient radio croaked its last song before falling silent forever. |
| Buy the Farm | To die. | Some say when we buy the farm, it’s just our way of moving on to a bigger and better place. |
| Take a Dirt Nap | To be buried in the ground. | The old dog, loyal until the end, peacefully took a dirt nap in the backyard. |
| Depart This Life | To die or pass away. | As the sun set on her final day, she quietly departed this life surrounded by loved ones. |
| Check Out | To die or leave. | Tired of the pain, he decided it was time to check out and find peace. |
| Go the Way of All Flesh | To die, to experience mortality. | No matter how powerful or famous, eventually, everyone must go the way of all flesh. |
| Go to One’s Eternal Rest | To die and find eternal peace. | May those we’ve lost go to their eternal rest, free from the struggles of life. |
| Go Belly Up | To fail or go out of business; used humorously for death. | The old computer finally went belly up, leaving the user searching for a replacement. |
| Take a One-Way Trip | To die with no return. | The astronaut knew that exploring space was a one-way trip into the unknown. |
| Go to Davy Jones’ Locker | To die at sea. | Sailors always faced the possibility of going to Davy Jones’ locker during treacherous voyages. |
| Fall Off the Perch | To die, often applied humorously to animals. | The old parrot, after years of entertaining the family, finally fell off the perch. |
| Become Food for Worms | To be buried and decompose. | Once we pass, our bodies become food for worms, returning to the cycle of nature. |
| Cross the Styx | To die; referencing the mythical river Styx. | In ancient tales, heroes would cross the Styx to reach the afterlife. |
| Answer the Final Summons | To die, as if summoned by a higher power. | As we navigate through life, we never know when we’ll be called to answer the final summons. |
Metaphors can help us talk about death in different ways, like comparing it to the closing of a book. For more metaphors related to death, you can check out this link: Metaphors for Death. Similarly, similes provide comparisons that can help us understand death better, such as describing it as peaceful as a sleeping baby. Explore additional similes for death here: Similes for Death.
Idioms for Death
1. Kick the Bucket
Meaning: To die or pass away.
In a Sentence: After a long and fulfilling life, Grandpa finally kicked the bucket peacefully in his sleep.
2. Bite the Dust
Meaning: To suffer defeat or fail.
In a Sentence: The old car finally bit the dust, leaving its owner in need of a new mode of transportation.
3. Meet One’s Maker
Meaning: To die and face one’s creator in the afterlife.
In a Sentence: When the time comes, we’ll all have to meet our maker, but until then, let’s make the most of life.
4. Cash in One’s Chips
Meaning: To die, often with a sense of finality.
In a Sentence: Despite his illness, John faced his last days with courage, ready to cash in his chips.
5. Pushing Up Daisies
Meaning: Buried in the ground, deceased.
In a Sentence: Long after we’re gone, our memories will live on even though our bodies are pushing up daisies.
6. Sleep with the Fishes
Meaning: To be dead and at the bottom of the sea.
In a Sentence: Criminals who betray their partners often end up sleeping with the fishes.
7. Join the Choir Invisible
Meaning: To be deceased and part of the afterlife.
In a Sentence: Believers find solace in the belief that their loved ones have joined the choir invisible.
8. Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil
Meaning: To die or pass away.
In a Sentence: Facing a terminal illness, the old man bravely shuffled off this mortal coil.
9. Take the Last Train
Meaning: To die.
In a Sentence: As the elderly lady peacefully slept, she took the last train to the unknown.
10. Meet One’s End
Meaning: To reach the end of one’s life.
In a Sentence: Facing danger, the hero knew he might meet his end, but he pressed on nonetheless.
11. Go to the Big Sleep
Meaning: To die.
In a Sentence: In his final years, the actor often spoke of going to the big sleep with a smile on his face.
12. Go Six Feet Under
Meaning: To be buried in the ground.
In a Sentence: Once we go six feet under, the worries of this world will cease to exist.
13. Give Up the Ghost
Meaning: To die or cease to function.
In a Sentence: After years of faithful service, the old car finally gave up the ghost on the side of the road.
14. Croak
Meaning: To die, often used informally.
In a Sentence: The ancient radio croaked its last song before falling silent forever.
15. Buy the Farm
Meaning: To die.
In a Sentence: Some say when we buy the farm, it’s just our way of moving on to a bigger and better place.
16. Take a Dirt Nap
Meaning: To be buried in the ground.
In a Sentence: The old dog, loyal until the end, peacefully took a dirt nap in the backyard.
17. Depart This Life
Meaning: To die or pass away.
In a Sentence: As the sun set on her final day, she quietly departed this life surrounded by loved ones.
18. Check Out
Meaning: To die or leave.
In a Sentence: Tired of the pain, he decided it was time to check out and find peace.
19. Go the Way of All Flesh
Meaning: To die, to experience mortality.
In a Sentence: No matter how powerful or famous, eventually, everyone must go the way of all flesh.
20. Go to One’s Eternal Rest
Meaning: To die and find eternal peace.
In a Sentence: May those we’ve lost go to their eternal rest, free from the struggles of life.
21. Go Belly Up
Meaning: To fail or go out of business; used humorously for death.
In a Sentence: The old computer finally went belly up, leaving the user searching for a replacement.
22. Take a One-Way Trip
Meaning: To die with no return.
In a Sentence: The astronaut knew that exploring space was a one-way trip into the unknown.
23. Go to Davy Jones’ Locker
Meaning: To die at sea.
In a Sentence: Sailors always faced the possibility of going to Davy Jones’ locker during treacherous voyages.
24. Fall Off the Perch
Meaning: To die, often applied humorously to animals.
In a Sentence: The old parrot, after years of entertaining the family, finally fell off the perch.
25. Become Food for Worms
Meaning: To be buried and decompose.
In a Sentence: Once we pass, our bodies become food for worms, returning to the cycle of nature.
26. Cross the Styx
Meaning: To die; referencing the mythical river Styx.
In a Sentence: In ancient tales, heroes would cross the Styx to reach the afterlife.
27. Answer the Final Summons
Meaning: To die, as if summoned by a higher power.
In a Sentence: As we navigate through life, we never know when we’ll be called to answer the final summons.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: Kick the Bucket
Question 1: What does the idiom “Kick the Bucket” mean?
- a) To win a competition
- b) To die or pass away
- c) To exercise vigorously
Question 2: In which sentence is “Kick the Bucket” correctly used?
- a) After acing the exam, she decided to kick the bucket.
- b) Grandpa finally kicked the bucket peacefully in his sleep.
- c) The team kicked the bucket in the championship game.
Quiz 2: Bite the Dust
Question 1: What does the idiom “Bite the Dust” mean?
- a) To taste something unpleasant
- b) To suffer defeat or fail
- c) To enjoy a meal quickly
Question 2: In which sentence is “Bite the Dust” correctly used?
- a) The chef bit the dust with his new recipe.
- b) The old car finally bit the dust, leaving its owner in need of a new mode of transportation.
- c) After a long day, she decided to bite the dust with a relaxing evening at home.
Quiz 3: Join the Choir Invisible
Question 1: What does the idiom “Join the Choir Invisible” mean?
- a) To become a professional singer
- b) To be part of a secret club
- c) To be deceased and part of the afterlife
Question 2: In which sentence is “Join the Choir Invisible” correctly used?
- a) The talented musician joined the choir invisible last night.
- b) Believers find solace in the belief that their loved ones have joined the choir invisible.
- c) The friends decided to join the choir invisible for a fun evening.
Quiz 4: Check Out
Question 1: What does the idiom “Check Out” mean?
- a) To inspect something closely
- b) To die or leave
- c) To pay for a hotel room
Question 2: In which sentence is “Check Out” correctly used?
- a) The librarian asked everyone to check out the new books.
- b) Tired of the pain, he decided it was time to check out and find peace.
- c) The cashier told the customer to check out at the counter.
Quiz 5: Fall Off the Perch
Question 1: What does the idiom “Fall Off the Perch” mean?
- a) To slip and fall from a high place
- b) To die, often applied humorously to animals
- c) To quit a job suddenly
Question 2: In which sentence is “Fall Off the Perch” correctly used?
- a) The cat fell off the perch but landed safely.
- b) The old parrot, after years of entertaining the family, finally fell off the perch.
- c) She decided to fall off the perch and pursue a different career.
Quiz 6: Take a Dirt Nap
Question 1: What does the idiom “Take a Dirt Nap” mean?
- a) To sleep outdoors
- b) To be buried in the ground
- c) To avoid getting dirty
Question 2: In which sentence is “Take a Dirt Nap” correctly used?
- a) After gardening, she decided to take a dirt nap.
- b) The old dog, loyal until the end, peacefully took a dirt nap in the backyard.
- c) He suggested taking a dirt nap to escape the summer heat.
Quiz 7: Go Six Feet Under
Question 1: What does the idiom “Go Six Feet Under” mean?
- a) To hide from someone
- b) To be buried in the ground
- c) To explore deep caves
Question 2: In which sentence is “Go Six Feet Under” correctly used?
- a) The archaeologist wanted to go six feet under to find ancient artifacts.
- b) Once we go six feet under, the worries of this world will cease to exist.
- c) She decided to go six feet under to avoid confrontation.
Quiz 8: Go to Davy Jones’ Locker
Question 1: What does the idiom “Go to Davy Jones’ Locker” mean?
- a) To take a cruise vacation
- b) To die at sea
- c) To find hidden treasure
Question 2: In which sentence is “Go to Davy Jones’ Locker” correctly used?
- a) The sailors set sail, hoping to go to Davy Jones’ Locker.
- b) The pirates celebrated their successful voyage to Davy Jones’ Locker.
- c) She planned to go to Davy Jones’ Locker for a relaxing weekend.
Quiz 9: Cross the Styx
Question 1: What does the idiom “Cross the Styx” mean?
- a) To travel across a river
- b) To die; referencing the mythical river Styx
- c) To have a successful journey
Question 2: In which sentence is “Cross the Styx” correctly used?
- a) The adventurer decided to cross the Styx to explore new lands.
- b) In ancient tales, heroes would cross the Styx to reach the afterlife.
- c) She hoped to cross the Styx and discover hidden treasures.
Quiz 10: Answer the Final Summons
Question 1: What does the idiom “Answer the Final Summons” mean?
- a) To respond to a legal notice
- b) To die, as if summoned by a higher power
- c) To attend a farewell party
Question 2: In which sentence is “Answer the Final Summons” correctly used?
- a) The lawyer advised her to answer the final summons promptly.
- b) As we navigate through life, we never know when we’ll be called to answer the final summons.
- c) The employee eagerly awaited the final summons for a promotion.
Conclusion
Idioms for death provide a unique lens through which cultures express the inevitability of life’s end. While these expressions may vary, they all point to a shared human experience—facing the unknown with a mix of acceptance, curiosity, and sometimes, a touch of humor.
