knell (redirected from knelling)

the death knell

the reason why something fails and ends. Computer-operated machinery has been seen as the death knell for traditional skills. (often + for)

See also: death

sound/toll the death knell

to cause an organization, system, or activity to fail or end. The new superstore will sound the death knell for hundreds of small independent shops. (often + for) The closure of the local car factory tolled the death knell of the town. (sometimes + of)

See also: death, sound, toll

---

sound the death knell for something

to cause something to end. Everyone likes e-mail, but it hasn't sounded the death knell for snail mail quite yet.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of sound the death knell (= to ring a church bell slowly to announce a person's death)

See also: death, sound