English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Do-or-die

What Does "Do-or-die" Mean?

homeidiomsDo-or-die
"Do-or-die" is an English idiom. It describes a critical or desperate situation where failure is not an option.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "do-or-die" used in a sentence:
  • It's a do-or-die moment for the team; they need to win this game to stay in the competition.
  • This exam is do-or-die for me. If I don't pass, I won't graduate.
  • They were in a do-or-die situation, with just 24 hours to meet the deadline.
meaning for do-or-die

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Do-or-die" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "do-or-die" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)