still as death

(as) still as death

Completely motionless; having no movement whatsoever. The forest was completely silent and still as death, and it sent shivers right down my spine. I remained as still as death so the burglar wouldn't know I was in the room. He stood as still as death after his name was called, too nervous to move.

See also: death, still

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*still as death

Cliché immobile; completely still. (The reference to death gives this expression ominous connotations. *Also: as ~.) George sat as still as death all afternoon. When the storm was over, everything was suddenly still as death.

See also: death, still

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.