at death’s door
Meaning
Extremely ill or close to dying; sometimes used more loosely for being near collapse or failure.
Origin
From the metaphor of death as a doorway or threshold one is about to pass through; variants appear in English writing from the 19th century onward.
Notes
Strong and often serious: usually means someone is critically ill. Can be metaphorical (near collapse/failure), but casual use may sound insensitive.
Examples
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After weeks in the ICU, he looked like he was at death’s door, but he slowly began to recover.
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When I had the flu last winter, I felt like I was at death’s door for three straight days.
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The old engine isn’t quite at death’s door yet, but it’s close enough that we should budget for a replacement.
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By the time the hikers were found, they were dehydrated and at death’s door.
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She was at death’s door after the accident, and the doctors weren’t sure she would make it through the night.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically used with forms of “be” (was/is/are) + at death’s door. Fairly fixed; “death’s” is possessive (often with curly apostrophe).
Synonyms
- on death’s door
- at death’s doorstep
- near death
- at the point of death
- in extremis
Antonyms
- in the pink
- healthy as a horse
- out of danger