death knell



death knell

Something that indicates impending failure, as in His low scores sounded the death knell for his ambitions. The noun knell, used for the ringing of a bell since at least a.d. 1000, is rarely heard today except in this figurative phrase.
See also: death, knell

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Mizukimee-zoo-keeJapanese
Gaufrid-Ancient Germanic
Tamaratah-MAH-rah (Russian, Spanish, Italian), tə-MAHR-ə (English), TAM-ə-rə (English)Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, English, Dutch, S
Joscelin-Old Norman
Najib-Arabic
Jerneja-Slovene