Talking about death or endings is never easy, and plain words often fail to capture the gravity or nuance of the moment. Idioms for dying provide a way to express these situations with sensitivity, color, and sometimes even subtle humor. This article explores expressions that make discussing life’s final moments—or extreme experiences—more natural, impactful, and memorable.
Best Idioms for Dying
1. Kick the Bucket
Meaning: To die or pass away (informal).
In a Sentence:
He kicked the bucket after a long illness.
The old car finally kicked the bucket after years of use.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Meet your maker, Croak
2. Pass Away
Meaning: A gentle way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
She passed away peacefully in her sleep.
His grandfather passed away last winter.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Depart, Leave this world
3. Meet Your Maker
Meaning: To die and face divine judgment.
In a Sentence:
He lived fearlessly, ready to meet his maker.
The old sailor was said to have met his maker at sea.
Other Ways to Say: Pass on, Go to the great beyond, Die
4. Bite the Dust
Meaning: To die, often suddenly or in a dramatic way, or to fail.
In a Sentence:
The cowboy bit the dust in the final duel.
Their plans bit the dust after the funding ran out.
Other Ways to Say: Perish, Fall, Go down
5. Give Up the Ghost
Meaning: To die or cease functioning, often used for machines or people.
In a Sentence:
The old machine finally gave up the ghost.
She gave up the ghost after a long battle with illness.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Stop working, Pass on
6. Go to the Great Beyond
Meaning: To die and move to an afterlife or unknown realm.
In a Sentence:
He went to the great beyond after a fulfilling life.
The poet spoke of going to the great beyond in his work.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Depart, Cross over
7. Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil
Meaning: To die, often with a poetic or philosophical tone.
In a Sentence:
She shuffled off this mortal coil surrounded by family.
He was ready to shuffle off this mortal coil after a long life.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pass away, Leave this world
8. Croak
Meaning: To die, often used informally or humorously.
In a Sentence:
I hope I don’t croak before finishing this project.
The old man croaked after years of adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Kick the bucket, Pass away, Drop dead
9. Buy the Farm
Meaning: To die, often suddenly or unexpectedly (informal).
In a Sentence:
The pilot bought the farm during the risky mission.
He almost bought the farm in that car accident.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Perish, Meet your end
10. Cash in Your Chips
Meaning: To die, likened to ending a gambling session.
In a Sentence:
She cashed in her chips after a vibrant life.
He wasn’t ready to cash in his chips just yet.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Kick the bucket, Die
11. Go Belly Up
Meaning: To die, fail, or cease functioning, often used for businesses or animals.
In a Sentence:
The fish went belly up after the tank broke.
The company went belly up, and so did their plans.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Fail, Collapse
12. Push Up Daisies
Meaning: To be dead and buried, often humorously.
In a Sentence:
He’ll be pushing up daisies before he gives up his land.
She joked about pushing up daisies one day.
Other Ways to Say: Be six feet under, Pass away, Die
13. Cross the Great Divide
Meaning: To die and move to the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
He crossed the great divide after a long illness.
The elder was said to have crossed the great divide peacefully.
Other Ways to Say: Pass on, Depart, Go to eternity
14. Drop Dead
Meaning: To die suddenly, or used as an exclamation of frustration.
In a Sentence:
He dropped dead from a heart attack yesterday.
She told him to drop dead when he annoyed her.
Other Ways to Say: Die suddenly, Perish, Pass away
15. Meet Your End
Meaning: To die, often with a sense of finality.
In a Sentence:
The warrior met his end on the battlefield.
She feared meeting her end in the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pass away, Perish
Related Post: 50 Idioms about Positivity That Turn Words into Energy
16. Be Six Feet Under
Meaning: To be dead and buried.
In a Sentence:
He’s been six feet under for years now.
The old plans are six feet under after the failure.
Other Ways to Say: Push up daisies, Pass away, Be gone
17. Go to Your Eternal Rest
Meaning: To die and find peace in the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
She went to her eternal rest surrounded by loved ones.
He hoped to go to his eternal rest after a good life.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Rest in peace, Die
18. Snuff It
Meaning: To die, often used informally or humorously.
In a Sentence:
I’m not ready to snuff it just yet!
The old dog snuffed it after a long life.
Other Ways to Say: Kick the bucket, Pass away, Croak
19. Pass Over to the Other Side
Meaning: To die and transition to the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
She passed over to the other side peacefully.
He believed he’d pass over to the other side one day.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Cross over, Depart
20. Fade Away
Meaning: To die or disappear gradually.
In a Sentence:
The old traditions faded away with time.
She faded away after a prolonged illness.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Wither, Die out
21. Breathe Your Last
Meaning: To take your final breath and die.
In a Sentence:
He breathed his last surrounded by family.
The hero breathed his last after the battle.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pass away, Meet your end
22. Go West
Meaning: To die, often with a historical or poetic connotation.
In a Sentence:
The old cowboy went west after a rugged life.
She went west, leaving behind a legacy.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Depart
23. Kick Off
Meaning: To die, often used informally (not to be confused with starting something).
In a Sentence:
He kicked off after a short illness.
The machine kicked off after years of wear.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pass away, Croak
24. Peg Out
Meaning: To die or cease functioning, often informal.
In a Sentence:
The old engine finally pegged out last week.
She pegged out after a long, fulfilling life.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Give up the ghost, Pass away
25. Go to the Big Sleep
Meaning: To die, often with a noir or poetic tone.
In a Sentence:
He went to the big sleep after a brave fight.
The detective spoke of going to the big sleep one day.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Eternal rest
26. Rest in Peace
Meaning: A wish for someone who has died to find peace in the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
She rests in peace after a life well-lived.
The gravestone read, “Rest in peace.”
Other Ways to Say: Eternal rest, Pass away, Be at peace
27. Slip Away
Meaning: To die quietly or gradually, often peacefully.
In a Sentence:
She slipped away in the night, surrounded by family.
He slipped away after a long struggle.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Fade away, Die quietly
28. Check Out
Meaning: To die or leave, often used informally.
In a Sentence:
He checked out after a sudden heart attack.
The old bike checked out after years of use.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Pass away, Kick the bucket
29. Pop Off
Meaning: To die suddenly or unexpectedly (informal).
In a Sentence:
He popped off during the night, shocking everyone.
The old radio popped off after years of service.
Other Ways to Say: Die, Croak, Drop dead
30. Go to Your Reward
Meaning: To die and receive the afterlife’s blessings or judgment.
In a Sentence:
She went to her reward after a life of kindness.
He believed he’d go to his reward one day.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Meet your maker, Die
31. Bite the Big One
Meaning: To die, often used humorously or informally.
In a Sentence:
He bit the big one after a wild adventure.
I don’t want to bite the big one before finishing this!
Other Ways to Say: Kick the bucket, Die, Pass away
32. Pass into Oblivion
Meaning: To die or be forgotten completely.
In a Sentence:
The old traditions passed into oblivion over time.
She passed into oblivion after a quiet life.
Other Ways to Say: Fade away, Die, Be forgotten
33. Go Out Like a Light
Meaning: To die or lose consciousness suddenly, often peacefully.
In a Sentence:
He went out like a light after the heart attack.
She went out like a light, peacefully in her sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Drop dead, Die suddenly
34. Meet Your Waterloo
Meaning: To face a final defeat or end, often likened to dying.
In a Sentence:
The company met its Waterloo after the scandal.
He met his Waterloo in the final battle.
Other Ways to Say: Meet your end, Perish, Fall
35. Join the Choir Invisible
Meaning: To die, often with a poetic or humorous tone.
In a Sentence:
She joined the choir invisible after a long life.
He joked about joining the choir invisible one day.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Go to eternity
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Dead Gone But Not Forgotten
36. Take the Dirt Nap
Meaning: To die and be buried, often used humorously.
In a Sentence:
He’s not ready to take the dirt nap just yet.
The old car took the dirt nap after breaking down.
Other Ways to Say: Push up daisies, Die, Be six feet under
37. Go to the Last Roundup
Meaning: To die, often with a Western or cowboy connotation.
In a Sentence:
The old rancher went to the last roundup peacefully.
She went to the last roundup after a full life.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Meet your end
38. Lay Down Your Life
Meaning: To die, especially sacrificially or for a cause.
In a Sentence:
He laid down his life for his country.
She was ready to lay down her life for her beliefs.
Other Ways to Say: Sacrifice yourself, Die, Perish
39. Drop Like a Stone
Meaning: To die or collapse suddenly, often from exhaustion or shock.
In a Sentence:
He dropped like a stone after the heart attack.
The old machine dropped like a stone after overuse.
Other Ways to Say: Die suddenly, Collapse, Pass away
40. Go to Your Long Home
Meaning: To die and enter the afterlife or eternal state.
In a Sentence:
She went to her long home after a peaceful life.
He was said to have gone to his long home quietly.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Eternal rest
41. Cross Over
Meaning: To die and pass into the afterlife.
In a Sentence:
She crossed over after a long illness.
He believed he’d cross over to a better place.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Go to the other side, Die
42. Be Taken from Us
Meaning: A gentle way to say someone has died.
In a Sentence:
She was taken from us too soon.
He was taken from us after a sudden accident.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Depart
43. Kick the Can
Meaning: To die, often used informally or humorously.
In a Sentence:
He kicked the can after a wild life.
I’m not ready to kick the can anytime soon!
Other Ways to Say: Die, Kick the bucket, Pass away
44. Go to Glory
Meaning: To die and ascend to heaven or a divine state.
In a Sentence:
She went to glory after a life of service.
He hoped to go to glory one day.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Ascend to heaven
45. Fade into the Sunset
Meaning: To die or disappear gradually, often romantically.
In a Sentence:
He faded into the sunset after a legendary career.
She faded into the sunset, leaving a legacy behind.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Fade away, Depart
46. Give Your Last Breath
Meaning: To die, emphasizing the final moment of life.
In a Sentence:
He gave his last breath surrounded by loved ones.
She gave her last breath after a brave fight.
Other Ways to Say: Breathe your last, Die, Pass away
47. Go Out with a Bang
Meaning: To die or end something dramatically or memorably.
In a Sentence:
He went out with a bang, leaving a lasting impression.
She wanted to go out with a bang, not a whimper.
Other Ways to Say: Die dramatically, End big, Pass with flair
48. Be No More
Meaning: To have died or ceased to exist.
In a Sentence:
The old traditions are no more, like they died out.
He is no more, leaving behind a legacy.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Be gone
49. Sleep the Big Sleep
Meaning: To die, often with a poetic or noir tone (similar to “go to the big sleep”).
In a Sentence:
She slept the big sleep after a long illness.
He was ready to sleep the big sleep after his adventures.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Eternal rest
50. Go the Way of All Flesh
Meaning: To die, as all living things eventually do.
In a Sentence:
He went the way of all flesh after a full life.
She went the way of all flesh, leaving memories behind.
Other Ways to Say: Pass away, Die, Meet your end
Conclusion
Discussing death or endings can be challenging, but the right words make all the difference. Idioms for dying allow you to convey these moments with sensitivity, nuance, and even a touch of wit when appropriate. Start using these expressions to speak about life’s final moments more thoughtfully and memorably.
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.
