IdiomDaily Life
English
Englisha matter of life and death
Meaning: Something of the greatest possible seriousness.
Example: “For a diabetic, insulin is a matter of life and death.”
Origin: The pairing of life and death for the highest stakes is very old and appears in English Bible translations. The phrase is common from the 18th century.
More English idioms
- shoulder to shoulder Side by side, working together.
- grow like wildfire To spread very fast.
- tread carefully To act with great caution in a delicate situation.
- pull the other one Said to someone telling an obvious lie.
- use someone as a cat's paw To get someone else to do one's dirty work.
- look out for number one To put one's own interests first.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- È un mammone An overgrown man who can't make a decision without his mother — the Italian archetype of…
- Che piagnucolone A relentless crybaby who finds something to complain about in every situation.
- È un orso Gruff, anti-social, and impossible to approach — they growl when spoken to and hibernate…
Keep exploring