Common idioms for dying include informal phrases like "kick the bucket," "bite the dust," and "pop your clogs," while more formal or literary options are "pass away," "meet their maker," or "breathe their last". These expressions offer euphemistic or humorous ways to talk about death, avoiding the direct word.
Idioms for dying
To bite the dust. To breath your last. To buy the farm. To croak.
perish. the ferry disaster in which 193 passengers perished. buy it (US, slang, rare) check out (US, slang) kick it (slang)
decaying doomed fading moribund. STRONG. declining disintegrating ebbing fated final going mortal passing perishing sinking vanishing withering. WEAK. at death's door at end of rope done for giving up the ghost in extremis on last leg one foot in grave.
There were a few which appear specifically in the United Kingdom, mainly "brown bread", cockney rhyming slang for dead and "gone for a Burton", which was used by British soldiers during the Second World War.
'cark it' - To die.
TIL the phrase "blow a raspberry" came from the Cockney Rhyming Slang term meaning "fart" (Raspberry tart = fart)
Gen Z slang uses internet-driven, often ironic terms to describe feelings, people, and situations, with popular examples including "rizz" (charisma), "drip" (style), "bet" (yes/okay), "no cap" (no lie), "bussin" (delicious/good), "mid" (average/bad), and "slay" (to do something exceptionally well). These phrases, heavily influenced by social media and AAVE, allow for quick, expressive communication, often using single words or short phrases to convey complex ideas.
So something like “to pass away” softens the image of death a little bit. That term is probably the most favored euphemism for death. But, you know, actually in journalism they tell you if you're writing an obituary, you should say “die” instead of “pass away” or something poetic like “departed this life.”
Don't worry too much about saying exactly the right thing
If you can't think of the right words, here are some examples: I don't know what to say but I am so sorry to hear this news. I am so sorry for your loss – you are in my thoughts. I'm so sad to hear this and I'm here if you need to talk.
After a loved one dies, we sometimes refer to them as being “gone” or we say that they “went away;" these are common euphemisms similar to “passed away” but even more ambiguous. We are especially prone to using these words when speaking to children about death, thinking it will soften the blow of loss.
A parched cowboy might croak, “howdy.” Another meaning of the word is "die," as in, "I'm sorry your hamster's dead, but you knew he was going to croak soon.” This kind of croak came from the popular idea that people make a distinctive sound just before they die, a "death rattle." Now there's something to look forward ...
Phrase. I'm dying. Indicates that the speaker believes that they are dying. (slang) Indicates that the speaker is laughing hard or uncontrollably.
“Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.” —W.H. Auden. “Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment.
Something that is moribund is almost dead, like a moribund economy that has been stuck in a recession for years. In Latin, mori means "to die." You probably recognize this root in words like mortal, mortician, and mortuary.
Many euphemisms for death liken it to sleep, including final repose, final rest, eternal rest, and eternal sleep. There are also many, many slang terms used in the context of death. Many are metaphorical and whimsical, such as the end of the line or the great gig in the sky.
Common Metaphors for Death
These types of death metaphors often offer some kind of hope or comfort. Beyond the veil: Existence beyond death. Breathed their last breath: Stopped breathing and died. Crossed over: Soul leaving the physical world for ethereal/spirit world. Deceased: No longer exists.
While Thanatos is broadly known as the god of death, in truth he is the god of non-violent death. Violent death, on the other hand, was personified by his sisters, the Keres, who each was a goddess of death. He is also connected with his twin brother, Hypnos, the god of sleep and dreams.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
In recent teen slang, 41 (pronounced "forty-ooooone" with a descending tone and sideways hand gestures) is a nonsensical, memetic trend similar to the older "67," used playfully in response to questions about age or quantity, or just for the humor of replicating the viral sound and movement, originating from a TikTok video by Blizzi Boi. It doesn't have a deep meaning but signifies being in on the trend, much like its predecessor.
What does pookie mean? A term of endearment or nickname that you call your best friend or significant other. Also used to describe something cute/adorable.
Before you call someone Pookie, know what it means. I never realized that Pookie had a a meaning. A fart that crawls from your butthole.
A raspberry or razz, also known as a Bronx cheer, is a mouth noise similar to a fart that is used to signify derision. It is also used as a voice exercise for singers and actors, where it may be called a raspberry trill or tongue trill.
Old Indian rupee banknotes had animals on them and it is said that the 500 rupee note had a monkey on it and the 25 rupee featured a pony and it has been suggested British soldiers returning home coined the phrase 'Monkey' to mean £500 and 'Pony' for £25 and the more recently used 'Bag of Sand' - grand to mean £1000 .