He loved his job and wanted to die in harness.
die in harness
idiomOf a person, to pass away before retirement.
Origin
disputed originRefers metaphorically to working horses dying while on the job, wearing their harness.
The professor refused to retire early, preferring to die in harness while still teaching his students.
Despite his failing health and the pleas of his family, the old merchant insisted on working until the end, determined to die in harness.
- 01
cross my heart and hope to die
Added to a promise or a statement to show how serious one was about being honest in what one said
- 02
die a thousand deaths
To suffer repeatedly (often mentally rather than physically); to suffer extreme embarrassment or anxiety.
- 03
die down
To become less virulent or strong; to subside.
- 04
die hard
Of a living being, to die only after a desperate struggle for life.
- 05
die on one's arse
To fail completely.
- 06
die on the vine
To fail at an early stage or never come to fruition, typically due to neglect, infeasibility, or lack of resources.
- 07
die out
To become extinct.
- 08
die the way one lived
To die because of or after doing something characteristic of oneself, especially something that one enjoyed doing.