# fog a mirror

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fog-a-mirror
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be alive.

## Examples

- He will hire anyone who can fog a mirror.
- The company is so desperate for workers that they will hire anyone who can fog a mirror.
- In this competitive market, the recruiter joked that the only requirement for the entry-level position was the ability to fog a mirror.

## Origin

Derived from the diagnostic practice of placing a mirror before the nose and mouth of a patient or sleeping individual. The presence of condensation on the glass served as evidence of respiration, confirming the subject had not yet deceased.

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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.