Meaning of Idiom ‘At Death’s Door’
To be at death’s door means to be so ill or so badly injured that you may die; to be at a point where death is imminent. 1Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010. 2Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth M. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Ware: Wordsworth, 1995.
To say someone is at death’s door is often an exaggeration.
Sentence Examples
“My mother calls me whenever she has the slightest discomfort and acts like she is at death’s door. She is perfectly healthy!”
“After the accident, it seemed that Jessie was at death’s door. The doctors were amazed at his recovery.”
“The eighty-year-old businessman is said to be at death’s door. There is little hope for recovery.”
“Doctor, she’s at death’s door.” “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” — Death Becomes Her (1992)
“When is a man safe from such wit if infirmity does not protect him?” “If he is infirm, then I am at death’s door.” — Sense and Sensibility (1995)
“How do you feel?” “Like I’m knocking on death’s door.” — Duplex (2003)
Origin
Death has been compared to a door or entryway since Biblical times, as in Psalm 107:18:
“Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.” 3Jarvie, Gordon. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms. London: Bloomsbury, 2009.
The full idiom has been in use since the mid-1500’s. 4Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
More Idioms Starting with A
More At Idioms
- Jump At Something (chance, offer, opportunity)
- At the Drop of a Hat
- At Hand
- Ill at Ease
- At Your Fingertips
- At Your Wit’s End
More Biblical Idioms
- Wash Your Hands of (Someone or Something)
- Bottomless Pit
- Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots, a
- Writing On the Wall
- Turn the Other Cheek
- The Bitter End, to (until)
More Death Idioms
More Door Idioms
This page contains one or more affiliate links. See full affiliate disclosure.