die (redirected from dies a death)

as straight as a die (British & Australian, American)

completely straight. The road runs straight as a die for fifty miles.

See also: straight

be as straight as a die

to be completely honest. You can trust Penny to tell you the truth - she's as straight as a die

See also: straight

Cross my heart (and hope to die).

something that you say in order to emphasize that something is true. I want to go to the party with you, not Sarah - cross my heart!

See also: cross, heart

die a death (British, American & Australian)

to fail and end. The principle of free health care for everyone is likely to die a death in the next ten years. The play, like so many others, died a natural death after only one week.

See also: death

die hard

if a habit, custom, or belief, dies hard, it takes a long time to change or end it. After a successful 30-year career, he no longer has any need to work - but old habits die hard. (usually in present tenses) These ancient traditions die hard in the isolated communities of rural China.

See also: hard

the die is cast

something that you say when a decision has been made or something has happened which will cause a situation to develop in a particular way. From the moment the first shot was fired, the die was cast and war became inevitable.

See also: cast

die with your boots on

to die while you are still actively involved in your work. I never want to retire - I'd rather die with my boots on.

See also: boot

die-hard

die hard - if a habit, custom, or belief, dies hard, it takes a long time to change or end it. Die-hard (= refusing to change) communists have regrouped to form the Communist Refoundation. (always before noun)

do-or-die

It's do or die. - something that you say when you are in a situation in which you must take a big risk in order to avoid failure. It was a do-or-die save by the goalkeeper that won the game. (always before noun)

It's do or die.

something that you say when you are in a situation in which you must take a big risk in order to avoid failure. It's now or never - do or die - risk everything or regret it for the rest of your life.

See also: it's

Never say die.

something that you say which means that you should not accept that you have failed while there is still a chance that you may succeed. There are still a couple of job agencies that you haven't tried. Never say die.

See also: never, say

to die for (informal)

if something is to die for, it is extremely good. The weather's fantastic, the people are warm and friendly and the food is to die for. She's a beautiful-looking girl with a voice to die for.

want to curl up and die

to feel very embarrassed about something that you have said or done. I spilt coffee all over their precious new rug and I just wanted to curl up and die.

See also: curl, want

wither on the vine (British, American & Australian, literary, American & Australian, literary)

if something withers on the vine, it is destroyed very gradually, usually because no one does anything to help or support it. Plans to create cheap housing for the poor seem doomed to wither on the vine.

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die down

to become quieter or less easily noticed. By morning the storm died down. Anger over the attacks on the refugee camps has not died down.

See also: down

die hard

to end with difficulty. Old friendships die hard.

Usage notes: often used in the phrase old habits die hard: He no longer needs to work, but old habits die hard, so he's at the office every day.

See also: hard

the die is cast

a decision is made that cannot be changed. When the first shot was fired, the die was cast and a revolution began.

Etymology: based on the idea that after you cast (= throw) a die (= small square block with a number on each side) you cannot control its movement

See also: cast

die off

to die one after another until no members of a particular group are left. She was ninety-two and said all her friends had died off.

die out

to stop existing. Bird-lovers thought a number of songbirds had died out, but they are back and noisier than ever.

it's do or die

to try to achieve a goal or fail making the effort. It's do or die – if the computer system isn't working by Monday, we'll lose the contract.

See also: it's

never say die

to refuse to stop trying to do something. What I liked best about hiking with this group of people was that they would never say die!

See also: never, say

to die for

extremely good. We had apple pie and it was to die for. He had a smile to die for.