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3. at death's door

at death's door

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at death's door

Extremely ill or very close to death or total destruction. A case of untreated rabies left me suddenly at death's door. There are many parts of the environment that are now at death's door due to the effects of pollution.

See also: door

at death's door

very near the end of one's life. (Often an exaggeration.) I was so ill that I was at death's door for three days. The family dog was at death's door for three days, and then it finally died.

See also: door

at death's door

dying or very ill He literally was at death's door when a liver became available for transplant.

See also: door

at death's door

On the point of dying, very ill, as in Whenever she had a bad cold she acted as though she were at death's door. The association of death with an entry way was first made in English in the late 1300s, and the phrase itself dates from the mid-1500s. Today it is often used as an exaggeration of ill health.

See also: door

at death's door

Near to death; gravely ill or injured.

See also: door