Dead and Buried

Also: Dead and gone

Meaning Of Idiom ‘Dead and Buried’

Something that is dead and buried is completely ended; gone and forever in the past; no longer in use. ¹,²,³

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Usage

Dead and buried is sometimes used to refer to a person literally having died, as in “you don’t need to worry about him trying to hurt you; he’s dead and buried.” However, it is usually used to refer to issues, ideas, etc.

Examples Of Use

“Many people think slavery is dead and buried but it still goes on in some parts of the world.”

“I can proudly announce that this unfair regulation is dead and buried,” said the congressman.

“Why would you bring up voting rights? The issue is dead and buried.”

“The old diner is dead and gone. Now there’s a fast food restaurant in its place.”

Origin

Used since the late 1800s ⁴ the figurative allusion is fairly obvious. When a person has died and been buried, they are neve coming back. Likewise, when an issue is dead and buried, it is irrevocably in the past. ⁵

More Idioms Starting with D

• Drive Someone Up the Wall
• Drive Into
• Down the Rabbit Hole
• Desk Jockey
• Days Of Yore

More Bury/Buried Idioms

• Bury the Hatchet
• Bury One’s Head In The Sand

More Dead Idioms

• Beat a Dead Horse
• Flat Broke
• Dead to Rights, have someone
• Dead Ringer
• Drop Dead

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References

1. McCarthy, Michael. Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms. Cambridge University Press, 2002
2. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
3. Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.
4. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
   Harcourt, 2013.
5. Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.