Used with Permission.
When speaking of death and dying Americans, in particular, go to great lengths to avoid using the specific words dying, death, or dead. Instead various euphemisms--a mild, indirect or vague term or slang terms are used that are felt to be less harsh, blunt or offensive.
In contrast, terms and expressions with death, dying, and killing are finding their way into normal conversations as part of the vernacular--the everyday speech of people and becoming part of the standard language. Death & Dying language can be found used in situations that have nothing to do with death, as part of the expressions of daily use.
The use of death, dead, dying, and killing terms often intensifies a word, makes a particular phrase seem stronger or helps to convey a deeper emotion or feeling. The table below has a list of some of the more commonly used death, dying, and killing terms, phrases and expressions.
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Resources:
Corr CA. Nabe CM. Corr DM. 2003. Death and Dying Life and Living. 4th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Publishing Co.
Table 1: Commonly Used Death & Dying Expressions
Death Language: Dead, Dying & Killing Terms | |
| Dead batteries
Dead beat Dead broke Dead certain Dead drunk Dead end Dead eye Dead giveaway Dead letters Dead man's hand (cards) Dead on your feet Dead shots Dead tired Dead to the world (in sleep) Dead wrong Dead zone Deadlines Deadlocked Deadly dull Deadpan expression I could just die (of embarrassment) I wish I was dead My child(ren) will be the death of me Scared to death Worried to death |
Dead as a doornail
Dead soldier (from killing a bottle of whiskey) Die of laughter Die on base Die on their feet Dressed to kill Fit to kill Flog a dead horse Kill a bottle of whiskey Kill or be killed Kill the lights Kill the moment Kill the mood Killer body Killer view Killing time Killjoy Lady killer My feet are killing me Road kill Slay an audience (with jokes) |
