die in boots

die in (one's) boots

To fight back, rather than passively accept something. I know that protesting seems fruitless, but we can't just give up on this cause—we have to die in our boots. We can't let them just take our land like that—we have to die in our boots! I would rather die in my boots than succumb to that cretin's wishes!

See also: boot, die

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

die in one's boots

 and die with one's boots on

Fig. to go down fighting; to die in some fashion other than in bed; to die fighting. (Popularized by western movies. Heroes and villains of these movies said they preferred death in a gunfight to showing cowardice or giving up.) I won't let him get me. I'll die in my boots. a gunfight to showing cowardice or giving up.) I won't let him get me. I'll die in my boots.

See also: boot, die

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.