Idioms for Death offer a nuanced way to discuss a universal, yet often difficult, topic. Simply saying someone “died” rarely conveys the context or emotion. These figurative expressions provide diverse ways to speak about passing, loss, and the end of life, softening the directness while adding depth.
This article explores common and evocative idioms for death, helping you navigate sensitive conversations with greater understanding and empathy.
Best Idioms for Death
1. Kick the bucket
Meaning: A humorous and informal way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
He kicked the bucket after a long, happy life.
They joked that their car kicked the bucket on the way home.
Other Ways to Say: Bite the dust, Take a dirt nap, Pass away
2. Bite the dust
Meaning: To die suddenly or be defeated, often in a light or humorous way.
In a Sentence:
The old car finally bit the dust last week.
Several characters bite the dust in the movie’s finale.
Other Ways to Say: Fall, Go down, Kick off
3. Pushing up daisies
Meaning: Dead and buried; a humorous way to describe being deceased.
In a Sentence:
By now, that old pirate is pushing up daisies.
They said he’s been pushing up daisies for a decade.
Other Ways to Say: Six feet under, Worm food, At peace
4. Bought the farm
Meaning: To die, often in an accident or unexpectedly.
In a Sentence:
He bought the farm in a tragic plane crash.
The soldier bought the farm during the last battle.
Other Ways to Say: Passed away, Died in action, Lost his life
5. Take a dirt nap
Meaning: To die and be buried; slangy and somewhat humorous.
In a Sentence:
That villain will take a dirt nap by the story’s end.
After the duel, one of them was taking a dirt nap.
Other Ways to Say: Laid to rest, Deceased, Gone
6. Cash in one’s chips
Meaning: To die, likened to ending a game.
In a Sentence:
She cashed in her chips after a full and meaningful life.
He knew it was time to cash in his chips.
Other Ways to Say: Check out, Rest in peace, Pass on
7. Croak
Meaning: A crude and slangy way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
The old frog finally croaked after years of smoking.
He croaked right on stage, to everyone’s horror.
Other Ways to Say: Snuff it, Drop dead, Expire
8. Go belly up
Meaning: To die or fail completely; originally used for fish.
In a Sentence:
The business went belly up, and so did his dreams.
He went belly up before reaching the hospital.
Other Ways to Say: Collapse, Die out, Go under
9. Pop one’s clogs
Meaning: British slang for dying, often used humorously.
In a Sentence:
Grandpa popped his clogs at the ripe age of 90.
The actor popped his clogs just after his final film.
Other Ways to Say: Kick the bucket, Pass away, Give up the ghost
10. Drop dead
Meaning: To die suddenly, often with a dramatic or sarcastic tone.
In a Sentence:
He just dropped dead during the marathon.
The character drops dead mid-sentence in the film.
Other Ways to Say: Collapse, Fall over, Die suddenly
11. Give up the ghost
Meaning: To die, especially when the body or machine finally stops working.
In a Sentence:
The old machine finally gave up the ghost after years of use.
He gave up the ghost quietly in his sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Breathe one’s last, Shut down
12. Shuffle off this mortal coil
Meaning: A poetic way to describe dying, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
In a Sentence:
He shuffled off this mortal coil with dignity and grace.
Many have shuffled off this mortal coil in peace.
Other Ways to Say: Depart this life, Cross over, Pass on
13. Meeting your Maker
Meaning: To die and face one’s Creator, often used with religious or spiritual undertones.
In a Sentence:
She was ready to meet her Maker after a long illness.
He met his Maker doing what he loved most.
Other Ways to Say: Go to heaven, Return to God, Cross over
14. Six feet under
Meaning: Dead and buried, literally under the ground.
In a Sentence:
He’s been six feet under since the car crash.
One day we’ll all be six feet under—make life count now.
Other Ways to Say: Buried, At rest, Laid to rest
15. At peace
Meaning: Dead, usually in a gentle, accepting, and solemn way.
In a Sentence:
She’s finally at peace, free from pain.
They buried him at peace beneath the oak tree.
Other Ways to Say: Rest in peace, Passed on, In eternal rest
Related Post: 50 Idioms About Life That Say It All
16. Going to a better place
Meaning: A comforting way to say someone has died and is believed to be in heaven or a peaceful afterlife.
In a Sentence:
They said she went to a better place after passing.
He believed his father had gone to a better place.
Other Ways to Say: Ascended, Passed on, At peace
17. Beyond the grave
Meaning: Related to death or the afterlife; may refer to legacy or spiritual presence.
In a Sentence:
His legacy lives on beyond the grave.
They believed the letter was a message from beyond the grave.
Other Ways to Say: After death, Posthumous, In the next life
18. Pass away
Meaning: A gentle, polite way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
Her grandmother passed away peacefully last night.
He passed away in his sleep, surrounded by family.
Other Ways to Say: Departed, Gone, Passed on
19. Breathe one’s last
Meaning: To die, often used in poetic or solemn contexts.
In a Sentence:
He breathed his last in the arms of his daughter.
The king breathed his last just before dawn.
Other Ways to Say: Died, Passed away, Drew’s final breath
20. Go to one’s reward
Meaning: To die and enter the afterlife, typically with a religious or spiritual connotation.
In a Sentence:
She went to her reward after a life of kindness.
Many believe he went to his reward in heaven.
Other Ways to Say: Join the angels, Enter paradise, Rest eternally
21. Dance with death
Meaning: To face mortal danger or come close to dying.
In a Sentence:
He danced with death while climbing that icy cliff.
Every race car driver dances with death at high speeds.
Other Ways to Say: Flirt with danger, Cheat death, Risk one’s life
22. A matter of life and death
Meaning: A very serious or urgent situation that could involve dying.
In a Sentence:
Getting that medicine was a matter of life and death.
To him, protecting his family was a matter of life and death.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely urgent, High stakes, Critical
23. Accidental death
Meaning: Death caused by an unforeseen or unintentional incident.
In a Sentence:
The coroner ruled it an accidental death.
His fall was a tragic accidental death.
Other Ways to Say: Unintended death, Fatal mishap, Misfortune
24. Dead as a doornail
Meaning: Absolutely and unmistakably dead.
In a Sentence:
The old battery was dead as a doornail.
The engine was dead as a doornail when we tried to start it.
Other Ways to Say: Completely dead, Totally lifeless, Gone
25. Death warmed up
Meaning: To look or feel extremely ill or exhausted.
In a Sentence:
After the flu, she looked like death warmed up.
He felt like death warmed up after the 14-hour flight.
Other Ways to Say: Pale, Sickly, Worn out
26. On one’s last legs
Meaning: Close to death or collapse (for a person or object).
In a Sentence:
That old laptop is on its last legs.
Grandpa’s been on his last legs for months now.
Other Ways to Say: Dying, Falling apart, Nearly finished
27. One foot in the grave
Meaning: Extremely old or near death.
In a Sentence:
He’s got one foot in the grave, but still drinks whiskey every night.
They joked she had one foot in the grave at 98.
Other Ways to Say: Elderly, Near the end, Very frail
28. At death’s door
Meaning: Critically ill or about to die.
In a Sentence:
She was at death’s door before the doctors intervened.
That patient looked like he was at death’s door.
Other Ways to Say: Gravely ill, On the edge, Close to dying
29. Knock on death’s door
Meaning: To be in a very dangerous or near-fatal condition.
In a Sentence:
After that car crash, he was knocking on death’s door.
She knocked on death’s door and lived to tell the tale.
Other Ways to Say: Brush with death, Near death, Critical
30. Cheat death
Meaning: To survive a life-threatening situation.
In a Sentence:
He cheated death in a skiing accident last winter.
They both cheated death when their parachute opened at the last second.
Other Ways to Say: Escape death, Beat the odds, Survive
31. Sleep with the fishes
Meaning: To be killed and disposed of in water (often in a mafia/criminal context).
In a Sentence:
He crossed the wrong people, and now he sleeps with the fishes.
The informant vanished—probably sleeping with the fishes.
Other Ways to Say: Silenced, Disposed of, Secretly killed
32. Worm food
Meaning: Someone who has died and is buried in the ground.
In a Sentence:
He’s worm food now—six feet under and forgotten.
By next week, that traitor will be worm food.
Other Ways to Say: Decomposing, Buried, Gone
33. Bite (the dust)
Meaning: To die or be defeated (variant of “bite the dust”).
In a Sentence:
Three of the characters bit the dust in the final scene.
The enemies will bite the dust by tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Be destroyed, Perish, Fall
34. Meet a sticky end
Meaning: To die in a violent or unfortunate way.
In a Sentence:
The villain met a sticky end after years of crime.
Many spies meet a sticky end in hostile countries.
Other Ways to Say: Die badly, Face doom, Tragic fate
35. Snuff it
Meaning: To die, often used informally and bluntly.
In a Sentence:
He snuffed it before getting to see his daughter graduate.
Poor guy snuffed it during the final scene.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Kick the bucket, Die suddenly
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Trust in Real-Life Situations
36. Get one’s just deserts
Meaning: To die or suffer as a result of one’s bad actions.
In a Sentence:
The dictator got his just deserts in the end.
He finally received his just deserts after years of crime.
Other Ways to Say: Pay the price, Reap what you sow, Face justice
37. Go to the gallows
Meaning: To be executed, especially by hanging.
In a Sentence:
The pirate went to the gallows for his crimes.
He faced the gallows with surprising calm.
Other Ways to Say: Be hanged, Be executed, Meet justice
38. Fall off the perch
Meaning: To die (a humorous expression, often about animals).
In a Sentence:
The parrot finally fell off the perch yesterday.
Grandpa jokes he’s not ready to fall off the perch yet.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pop off, Expire
39. Buy it
Meaning: To die, especially in war or violent events.
In a Sentence:
He bought it during the last ambush of the war.
The soldier bought it before making it home.
Other Ways to Say: Perish, Be killed, Fall in battle
40. Check out
Meaning: To die, said informally like leaving a hotel.
In a Sentence:
She checked out after a long, brave battle with illness.
He quietly checked out while everyone was asleep.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Leave this life, Be gone
41. Dead even
Meaning: Completely tied or equal, often used figuratively but includes the word “dead.”
In a Sentence:
The two runners were dead even at the finish line.
The vote was dead even, forcing a recount.
Other Ways to Say: Tied, Neck and neck, Balanced
42. Cross the great divide
Meaning: To die and move on to the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
He crossed the great divide after a peaceful life.
Many believe their soul crosses the great divide when they pass.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Enter the afterlife, Leave this world
43. Go to the great beyond
Meaning: To die, especially with a spiritual or mystical tone.
In a Sentence:
She went to the great beyond, leaving a legacy of love.
Legends say the spirit goes to the great beyond.
Other Ways to Say: Ascend, Journey onward, Enter eternity
44. Rest in peace
Meaning: A respectful wish for the deceased to be at peace.
In a Sentence:
His gravestone simply reads: Rest in peace.
We pray she may rest in peace.
Other Ways to Say: Eternal rest, At peace, Sleep Forever
45. Kick off
Meaning: To die (informal, less common variant of “kick the bucket”).
In a Sentence:
He kicked off before finishing his last novel.
Grandma says she’s not ready to kick off just yet.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pop off, Exit
46. Join the choir invisible
Meaning: A poetic way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
He joined the invisible choir after a life of music.
Shakespeare would say she’s now in the choir invisible.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Depart, Enter heaven
47. Slip away
Meaning: To die quietly or peacefully.
In a Sentence:
She slipped away in her sleep, without pain.
The old man slipped away while holding her hand.
Other Ways to Say: Pass peacefully, Drift off, Fade out
48. Go west
Meaning: To die, often with a romantic or old-fashioned tone.
In a Sentence:
The cowboy went west with his boots on.
Many soldiers went west in that final battle.
Other Ways to Say: Depart, Die, Ride off into the sunset
49. Pay the ultimate price
Meaning: To die, especially in service or sacrifice.
In a Sentence:
He paid the ultimate price to protect his comrades.
They honored those who paid the ultimate price.
Other Ways to Say: Sacrifice, Give their life, Die for a cause
50. Fade into oblivion
Meaning: To die and be forgotten over time.
In a Sentence:
The poet faded into oblivion after his passing.
Without memories, even heroes fade into oblivion.
Other Ways to Say: Be forgotten, Disappear, Vanish from history
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Death
- After battling cancer for years, she finally __________ last night, surrounded by loved ones.
- That haunted house looked like a place where someone might __________.
- The old soldier proudly said he was ready to __________ when the time came.
- The mob boss warned the traitor he would soon be __________.
- My laptop is officially __________—it won’t even turn on.
- When the lights went out and he collapsed, we feared he had just __________.
- After the fall, the climber was hanging on, but he was clearly __________.
- The joke was dark, but everyone laughed when he said Grandpa had finally __________.
- It was a miracle she survived that crash—she completely __________.
- As the war ended, the general knew many had __________ for freedom.
Answer
- passed away
- meet a sticky end
- meet his Maker
- sleep with the fishes
- dead as a doornail
- dropped dead
- at death’s door
- kicked the bucket
- cheated death
- paid the ultimate price
Conclusion
Ultimately, idioms for death serve as powerful linguistic tools, allowing us to navigate a profoundly difficult subject with grace and varied expression. Each phrase offers a unique lens through which to view loss and the end of life.
By understanding and utilizing these idioms, we gain not only a richer vocabulary but also a deeper empathy for the many ways people cope with and communicate about finality. They remind us that even in profound moments, language provides comfort and connection.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
