(as) dead as a kipper

1. Unequivocally dead. A: "Is the squirrel dead? Poke it with a stick and check." B: "Yep, dead as a kipper." A: "Are you sure the goldfish is dead?" B: "Oh yeah—dead as a kipper." Any animal unlucky enough to run out into this busy street will end up dead as a kipper.

2. Totally defunct. Oh, that idea from last week's meeting is dead as a kipper—the CEO just vetoed it. Good luck getting a refund from that company—it seems to be dead as a kipper these days. His mayoral campaign is likely dead as a kipper now, thanks to this exposé about his shady business dealings.

be (as) dead as a kipper

1. To be unequivocally dead. A: "Is the squirrel dead? Poke it with a stick and check." B: "Yep, it's dead as a kipper." A: "Are you sure the goldfish is dead?" B: "Oh yeah—it's dead as a kipper." Any animal unlucky enough to run out into this busy street will be dead as a kipper in a matter of seconds.

2. To be totally defunct. Oh, that idea from last week's meeting is dead as a kipper—the CEO just vetoed it. Good luck getting a refund from that company—it seems to be dead as a kipper these days. His mayoral campaign is likely dead as a kipper now, thanks to this exposé about his shady business dealings.