Health, Body, and Soul: From Life to Death Idioms for Students

Master life and death idioms and enhance your English vocabulary with native-like expressions. Learn the meaning and usage of common English idioms with example sentences.

Common Life and Death Idioms with Meanings and Example Sentences

idiom, definition, example sentence

A brush with death

Refers to a close or near-death experience.
After surviving the car accident, he had a brush with death and realized the fragility of life.

A clean bill of health

To receive confirmation of good health after a medical examination or check-up.
The doctor gave her a clean bill of health, assuring her that she was in good condition.

A new lease on life

To have a fresh start or a renewed perspective on life.
After recovering from a serious illness, he felt like he had a new lease on life.

A second wind

To gain a renewed burst of energy or motivation to continue or persevere.
Despite feeling tired, she found her second wind and pushed through to the finish line.

A shot in the arm

Something that provides a boost or revitalization.
The positive feedback she received was a shot in the arm, motivating her to keep going.

Alive and kicking

To be lively, active, and in good health.
Despite his age, he’s still alive and kicking, enjoying life to the fullest.

Back from the brink

To recover from a dangerous or critical situation.
After a long battle, he managed to come back from the brink and regain his strength.

Battle for survival

To struggle and fight to stay alive or overcome a difficult situation.
The hiker faced a battle for survival after getting lost in the wilderness.

Beyond the grave

Refers to events or actions that occur after death.
His legacy and impact continue beyond the grave, inspiring future generations.

Bite the dust

To suffer defeat or experience failure.
After a long fight, their team had to bite the dust and accept their loss.

Breath of life

A revitalizing or rejuvenating influence or experience.
The vacation was a breath of life, providing relaxation and renewed energy.

Catch your breath

To pause and rest to regain one’s breath or composure.
After running a marathon, she needed a moment to catch her breath.

Cheating death

To narrowly escape or avoid a fatal outcome or danger.
His survival against all odds was like cheating death itself.

Curtain call

The final appearance or performance of a person, often at the end of a career.
The crowd cheered during her curtain call, celebrating her long and successful acting career.

Dance the last dance

To experience or engage in one’s final or ultimate experience or opportunity.
The retiring athlete wanted to dance the last dance and give it their all.

Dead as a door nail

Completely lifeless or without any signs of vitality.
The old car engine was dead as a door nail; it wouldn’t start no matter what.

Death’s door

To be on the brink of death or in critical condition.
After the severe illness, she was at death’s door, requiring immediate medical attention.

Death-defying

Involving great risk or danger to one’s life.
The acrobat performed death-defying stunts high above the ground.

Drop like flies

To fall or die rapidly in large numbers.
During the flu outbreak, people were dropping like flies.

Eternal rest

Refers to the peaceful and permanent rest after death.
May they find eternal rest and peace in the afterlife.

Fight off

To resist or defend against an attack or threat.
She fought off the cold by taking medication and resting.

Fighting fit

To be in excellent physical health and condition.
Despite his age, he’s still fighting fit and able to participate in challenging activities.

Fit as a fiddle

To be in excellent physical health and condition.
She exercises regularly and eats well, which keeps her fit as a fiddle.

Fountain of youth

A metaphorical source or secret to eternal youthfulness or vitality.
Some people believe that exercise and healthy living are the fountain of youth.

Full of life

To be energetic, vibrant, and lively.
The children at the park were full of life, laughing and playing.

Get back on track

To return to a desired or normal course or path.
After facing setbacks, she was determined to get back on track and achieve her goals.

Give up the ghost

To cease to exist or function, especially in reference to a machine or object.
After years of use, the old computer finally gave up the ghost and stopped working.

Going strong

To continue with strength, vitality, or success.
Despite the challenges, their relationship is going strong.

Graveyard shift

Refers to working during the late night or early morning hours.
She works the graveyard shift at the hospital, taking care of patients overnight.

Grim reaper

A personification of death, often depicted as a cloaked figure carrying a scythe.
The Grim Reaper is a symbol often associated with death in folklore and mythology.

Hanging by a thread

To be in a precarious or extremely fragile situation.
The company’s future was hanging by a thread, depending on the outcome of the negotiations.

Have a clean bill of health

To receive confirmation of good health after a medical examination or check-up.
The doctor examined him thoroughly and gave him a clean bill of health.

Hit rock bottom

To reach the lowest point or experience the worst possible situation.
After losing his job and going bankrupt, he hit rock bottom before starting to rebuild his life.

In good shape

To be in good physical condition or health.
She exercises regularly and eats well to stay in good shape.

In my element

To be in a situation or environment where one feels comfortable and capable.
When she’s on stage, she’s in her element and performs with confidence.

In my own backyard

In one’s local or familiar surroundings or community.
The solution to the problem was right in my own backyard; I didn’t need to look far.

In my shoes

To put oneself in another person’s position or circumstances.
Before passing judgment, try to put yourself in my shoes and understand my perspective.

In the best of health

To be in excellent physical condition or health.
Despite her age, she’s in the best of health and rarely falls ill.

In the driver’s seat

To be in control or in a position of power.
After taking charge of the project, she felt empowered and in the driver’s seat.

In the limelight

To be the center of attention or public scrutiny.
The actor’s success put him in the limelight, attracting media and public attention.

In the pink

To be in good health or excellent condition.
After recovering from the illness, she’s back to being in the pink of health.

In the same boat

To be in the same difficult or challenging situation as others.
We’re all facing financial hardships; we’re in the same boat.

In the spotlight

To be the focus of attention or public interest.
The singer found herself in the spotlight after her debut album became a hit.

Kick the bucket

A euphemism for dying or passing away.
He always said he wanted to travel the world before he kicked the bucket.

Knock on wood

A superstitious action performed to avoid tempting fate or jinxing something.
The project is going well so far, knock on wood, let’s hope it continues.

Life and limb

Refers to risking one’s life and physical well-being.
The firefighters put their lives and limbs on the line to save people from the burning building.

Living on borrowed time

To continue to exist or survive beyond what is expected or anticipated.
After surviving the accident, he felt like he was living on borrowed time.

March to the beat of my own drum

To pursue one’s own path or follow one’s own unique way of doing things.
She never cared about conforming; she always marched to the beat of her own drum.

Me, myself, and I

To act or operate independently, without relying on others.
She prefers working alone; it’s usually just me, myself, and I.

Meet one’s maker

To die or face death.
In his final moments, he was ready to meet his maker.

Memento mori

Latin phrase meaning “remember that you must die,” often used as a reminder of mortality.
The skull-shaped artwork served as a memento mori, reminding people of the inevitability of death.

Off-color

To feel unwell, sick, or not in good health.
She looked off-color and decided to stay home instead of going to work.

On my own terms

To do something according to one’s own preferences or conditions.
He decided to retire on his own terms, not waiting for others to make the decision for him.

On the mend

In the process of recovering or getting better after an illness or injury.
After the surgery, she was on the mend and gradually regaining her strength.

One and only

A unique and singular person or thing.
She’s my one and only true love; no one else compares.

Out of my comfort zone

To be in a situation or do something that is unfamiliar or challenging.
Public speaking is out of my comfort zone, but I decided to give it a try.

Out of shape

To be in poor physical condition or fitness.
After not exercising for months, she felt out of shape and decided to start working out again.

Pass away

A gentle or euphemistic way of saying someone has died.
He peacefully passed away in his sleep.

Pushing up daisies

A euphemism for being dead and buried.
Once I’m gone, you can find me pushing up daisies in the old cemetery.

Put myself in someone else’s shoes

To imagine oneself in another person’s circumstances or perspective.
Before judging others, I always try to put myself in their shoes and understand their point of view.

Put one’s health first

To prioritize and take care of one’s physical well-being.
After experiencing burnout, she decided to put her health first and make self-care a priority.

Reborn from ashes

To experience a significant transformation or rebirth after a difficult period.
After losing everything in the fire, they rebuilt their lives and emerged reborn from ashes.

Renewed vigor

To have renewed energy, enthusiasm, or determination.
After taking a break, she returned to work with renewed vigor and motivation.

Rest in peace (R.I.P)

A phrase used to express well wishes for someone who has died.
The inscription on the tombstone read, “Rest in peace.”

Rise from the ashes

To recover, rebuild, or experience a resurgence after a significant setback or failure.
The company rose from the ashes and became even stronger after the bankruptcy.

Second chance at life

An opportunity to start again or make a fresh start in life.
After the near-fatal accident, he considered it a second chance at life.

Sick as a dog

To be very sick or unwell.
After eating spoiled food, he was sick as a dog for days.

Six feet under

To be buried in a grave.
When I die, I want to be laid to rest six feet under.

Sound as a bell

To be in excellent physical or mental condition.
Despite his age, his mind is still sound as a bell.

Spring back to life

To regain energy, vitality, or enthusiasm after a period of stagnation or inactivity.
After a long winter, the flowers and trees spring back to life.

Stand on my own two feet

To be independent and self-reliant.
She wanted to prove that she could stand on her own two feet and succeed.

Survival of the fittest

The principle that those who are the strongest and most adaptable are the ones who survive and thrive.
In nature, survival of the fittest ensures that only the strongest species endure.

Take a turn for the worse

To deteriorate or worsen unexpectedly.
After showing signs of improvement, her condition suddenly took a turn for the worse.

The apple of my eye

Someone or something that is cherished and loved above all others.
Her daughter is the apple of her eye; she means everything to her.

The final curtain

A reference to the end or conclusion of something, often a career or life.
After the last performance, the actor took a bow, signaling the final curtain.

The final journey

The last part of someone’s life or the process of dying.
The hospice provided comfort and care during her final journey.

The great beyond

Refers to the unknown or afterlife.
Many people wonder what lies in the great beyond, beyond our earthly existence.

The spark of life

The vital or animating force that gives life and energy to living beings.
The birth of their child brought them joy and reminded them of the spark of life.

Tip-top shape

To be in excellent condition or state.
She exercises regularly and eats well, keeping herself in tip-top shape.

To be at death’s doorstep

To be very close to death or in critical condition.
The patient’s condition was dire; she was at death’s doorstep.

To each his own

Different people have different preferences or opinions, and everyone is entitled to their own.
I may not understand why he likes that movie, but to each his own.

To meet one’s demise

To die or face death.
The fearless warrior met his demise on the battlefield.

To meet one’s end

To die or reach the end of one’s life or journey.
Despite his illness, he was at peace knowing he had met his end with dignity.

To pass on

A euphemistic way of saying someone has died.
Her grandfather passed on peacefully in his sleep.

To shuffle off this mortal coil

A poetic and metaphorical way of referring to death.
In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet contemplates whether to shuffle off this mortal coil.

To take one’s last breath

The final breath before dying.
The elderly woman held her loved one’s hand as they took their last breath.

Tombstone mentality

A pessimistic or fatalistic attitude towards life, often associated with a focus on death or mortality.
Some people have a tombstone mentality, always dwelling on the negative aspects of life.

Turn the corner

To overcome a difficult situation or reach a turning point for the better.
After months of struggling, the business finally turned the corner and started making profits.

Turn to dust

To disintegrate or crumble into fine particles.
Over time, the old book turned to dust.

Under the weather

To feel unwell or slightly ill.
She didn’t come to the party because she was feeling under the weather.

Up and about

To be active, moving around, and functioning normally after an illness or injury.
After a week in bed with the flu, she finally felt better and was up and about.

Vital signs

Indicators of life, such as pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiration.
The doctor checked his vital signs to assess his overall health.

Walk in my shoes

To experience or understand another person’s perspective by imagining oneself in their situation.
Before judging someone, try to walk in their shoes and understand their struggles.

Walking on air

To feel elated, ecstatic, or extremely happy.
After receiving the good news, she felt like she was walking on air.

Weigh on my mind

To occupy or trouble one’s thoughts or cause worry or concern.
The unfinished task weighed on her mind; she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Wellness check

A routine medical examination or assessment of one’s overall health and well-being.
The doctor recommended a wellness check to monitor his health and detect any potential issues.

With one foot in the grave

To be close to death or in very poor health.
After the heart attack, he felt like he had one foot in the grave.

Within my comfort zone

In a situation or doing something that feels familiar, safe, and comfortable.
I prefer staying within my comfort zone rather than taking unnecessary risks.

Work up a sweat

To engage in physical activity that causes sweating and increased exertion.
He hit the gym every day to work up a sweat and stay fit.

Worm food

A humorous or irreverent way of referring to a dead body that will decompose and become food for worms.
Once I’m gone, I’ll just be worm food, returning to the earth.

Worn out

To be exhausted or extremely tired.
After a long day at work, she was worn out and ready for bed.

Your guess is as good as mine

To express uncertainty or lack of knowledge about something.
I don’t know the answer either; your guess is as good as mine.

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