# either do or die

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/either-do-or-die
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

An ultimatory verbal phrase composed of the words *either*, *do*, *or*, and *die*.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.