doornail (redirected from doornails)

be as dead as a doornail (informal)

to be dead. I found the fish, dead as a doornail, floating on the surface of the water.

See also: dead

be as deaf as a post (British, American & Australian, informal, Australian)

to be completely deaf. She's 89 and as deaf as a post.

See also: deaf, post

---

(as) dead as a doornail

1. obviously dead. The fox in the road was dead as a doornail.

2. not active at all. Nothing ever happens in our town — it's as dead as a doornail.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of doornail (= a nail with a large head)

See also: dead