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Matter of Life and Death

What Does "Matter of Life and Death" Mean?

homeidiomsMatter of Life and Death
"Matter of life and death" is an English idiom. It means "a situation or issue that is extremely important, often because someone's life is at risk."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "matter of life and death" used in a sentence:
  • Getting this medicine to him is a matter of life and death.
  • She emphasized that the situation was a matter of life and death and required immediate attention.
  • For some, access to clean water is a matter of life and death.
meaning for matter of life and death

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 "Matter of Life and Death" 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.

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