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3. nail in the coffin of

nail in the coffin of

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(a) nail in the coffin of something

also (a) nail in something's coffin

an action that will cause something to end This report on the effects of smoking is another nail in the coffin of the tobacco industry. We thought the firings would put the final nail in the union's coffin, but in fact, the union has grown in size and importance.

See also: coffin, nail, of