# hill to die on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hill-to-die-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An issue to pursue with a wholehearted conviction or a single-minded focus, with little or no regard to the cost and no intent of equivocation or compromise.

## Examples

- This small argument is not a hill to die on.
- Choosing the paint color for the kitchen is my hill to die on.
- Is this tiny mistake really the hill to die on for you?
- I disagree with the new policy, but it is not a hill to die on, so I will let it go.
- She decided that fighting for a higher salary was her hill to die on because she had worked there for five years without a raise.
- The manager told the team to pick their battles wisely, as a small font change on the website is rarely a hill to die on.
- While he felt strongly about the project, he realized that challenging the director's minor preference was not a hill to die on.

## Origin

An allusion to the instances where a military doggedly pursues a goal or defends a position no matter the cost or (lack of) benefit, typically involving a hill (high ground). Examples include Battle of Hamburger Hill, Battle of Thermopylae, and Last Stand Hill.

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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.