dead as a doornail
dead as a doornail
Meaning | Synonyms
- becoming obsolete
- thing that is not used anymore
- non-existing
- lacking life
- absolutely dead
- something that is not functioning properly
- thing whose presence won’t make any difference
Variants
- dead as a dodo
- deaf as a doornail
- dour as a doornail
Example Sentences
- The flowers are all dead as a doornail.
- Malnutrition will leave you all dead as a doornail.
- I hit that mosquito using my pencil and now it is dead as a doornail.
- The idea to start an online business is dead as a doornail now.
- My expensive laptop was dead as a doornail but it is working properly now.
- Nobody is going to elect Harry now. His rule is over, dead as a doornail.
Origin
Doornail was one of the heavy studded nails on the outside door. There are different sources available which talks about its origin. It is said that it came from a poem named “The Vision of William Concerning Piers Plowman” in the 14th century, where is mentioned as:
“Faith without works is feebler than nothing, and dead as a doornail”
It is also believed that this is an ancient phrase which came earlier in about 1350.
Charles Dicken also used this phrase in his book called “A Christmas Carol” as:
“You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a doornail.”
dead in the water ❯❮ make a mountain out of a molehill
Idiom of the Day
English Grammar
About
The Idioms Dictionary explains common English idioms that are popular worldwide, especially in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand.
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