have seen one's last gum tree
Of a person, on the edge of death.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The old dog looks like he has seen his last gum tree.”
“I think this old car has seen its last gum tree.”
“My phone finally broke and has seen its last gum tree.”
“The doctor spoke quietly to the family, suggesting that the patient had seen his last gum tree.”
“The gardener looked at the withered rose bush and knew it had seen its last gum tree after the frost.”
“After the storm destroyed the roof, the owner admitted the cottage had seen its last gum tree and needed tearing down.”
“The explorer felt his strength fading in the desert and feared he had seen his last gum tree.”
“As the sun set over the horizon, the weary traveler realized with a heavy heart that he had seen his last gum tree.”
Attested as an Australian expression, though no specific dates or named entities are recorded for its introduction into the lexicon. The phrase relies upon the gum tree as a quintessential fixture of the Australian landscape, suggesting that to have seen one's last specimen is to have reached the end of one's life.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026