dead man walking

1. A (male) prisoner on death row who is walking to the place of execution. Primarily heard in US. It's been my duty to accompany each dead man walking as he takes his last steps in this world. I know I'm a dead man walking, so can we just get this over with? What is there to live for? A: "Who's the guy in the shackles being led down the hall?" B: "A dead man walking, that's who."

2. By extension, any man who is in great trouble or difficulty and is certain to face punishment, especially the loss of a job. John really screwed up that business deal; I'd say he's a dead man walking at this point. I lost all of our savings in the casino last night—I'm a dead man walking. I'm not surprised they fired me—I knew I was a dead man walking when I got my last performance review.

3. Any man who is near death or certain to die. They just discovered that I've got cancer, and it's already spread to my lymph nodes—I'm a dead man walking. Don't worry about him, he's a dead man walking; we'll make sure that stool pigeon never talks. This shipment is worth millions, so if you do anything to compromise it, you're a dead man walking.