at (one's) doorstep
1. Literally, outside one's door. I'm at your doorstep right now—where are you? The emails says that the driver left the package at our doorstep, but there's nothing here. Who's at my doorstep this early in the morning? Good grief.
2. By extension, one's responsibility. That issue is at the police commissioner's doorstep now. I always hire reputable contractors for my company because I don't want complaints of shoddy construction at my doorstep. Now that you're the mayor, the city's crime issues are at your doorstep.
3. Very close to one's location, especially of an unwanted thing that is encroaching. We used to think of it as a skirmish on the frontier, but the war is now at our doorstep. This whole area used to be rural, but with rampant development, the suburbs are at our doorstep. You need to get to the basement—that tornado is practically at your doorstep!
at death's doorstep
Extremely ill or very close to death or total destruction. A case of untreated rabies left me suddenly at death's doorstep. There are many parts of the environment that are now on death's doorstep due to the effects of pollution. Oh, I'm fine now—it's not like I was at death's doorstep, I just had a cold!
camp out on (one's) doorstep
To station oneself temporarily in front of one's house. Usually used in reference to paparazzi or members of the media. News outlets have been camping out on our doorstep for the last three days after police named us as suspects in the case. Following the huge success of the film, the actress has had paparazzi camped out on her doorstep trying to get pictures of her and her family. Even if you camped out on the senator's doorstep, I doubt you'd be able to change his mind on this issue.
never darken (one's) doorstep again
To never return to one's home. Used when referring to an unwelcome visitor. Don't worry, I've made sure that he'll never darken our doorstep again.
not darken the doorstep of (some place)
To not go or never return to some place. I heard the Justice Department is dropping the case, so it looks like he won't darken the doorstep of the courthouse anytime soon. I haven't darkened the doorstep of a church since I was 10 years old.
on (one's) doorstep
1. Literally, outside one's door. I'm on your doorstep right now—where are you?
2. By extension, one's responsibility. That issue is on the police commissioner's doorstep now. I always hire reputable contractors for my company because I don't want complaints of shoddy construction on my doorstep.
3. Very close to one's location, especially of an unwanted thing that is encroaching. We used to think of it as a skirmish on the frontier, but the war is now on our doorstep. This whole area used to be rural, but with rampant development, the suburbs are on our doorstep.
on the doorstep
Very close to one's location or home. We used to think of it as a skirmish on the frontier, but the war is now on the doorstep. This is a wonderful place to live, with these gorgeous mountains right on the doorstep.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
never darken someone's door
or never darken someone's doorstep
OLD-FASHIONEDIf someone tells you never to darken their door again or never to darken their doorstep again, they are ordering you never to visit them again. The law firm told them to destroy all dossiers and never darken their doorstep again.
not darken somewhere's door
or not darken somewhere's doorstep
OLD-FASHIONEDIf someone never goes to a place, you can say that they do not darken its door or do not darken its doorstep. He had not darkened the door of a church for a long time. Plenty more cases never darken the doorstep of a courthouse. Note: The image here is of someone's dark shadow falling across the door.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012