either do or die
To act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“It is do or die for our team in this final game.”
“With the deadline only an hour away, it was do or die for the team to finish the project.”
“Facing total bankruptcy, the entrepreneur realized it was a situation of do or die, forcing him to take one final, desperate risk.”
An ultimatory verbal phrase composed of the words *either*, *do*, *or*, and *die*.
- 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 in harness
Of a person, to pass away before retirement.
- 06
die on one's arse
To fail completely.
- 07
die on the vine
To fail at an early stage or never come to fruition, typically due to neglect, infeasibility, or lack of resources.
- 08
die out
To become extinct.
Last updated August 10, 2026