Idiom idiom
deathbed conversion
Meaning
An abrupt, last-minute change in one's professed beliefs, principles, or point of view in order to escape a serious threat or to increase one's chances of success.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“His sudden apology felt like a suspicious deathbed conversion.”
“The politician suddenly supported the new law, but critics dismissed his change of heart as a convenient deathbed conversion.”
“Facing a lifetime of scrutiny, the disgraced executive attempted a deathbed conversion, hoping to salvage his reputation before the final verdict arrived.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026