# matter of life and death

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/matter-of-life-and-death
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An extremely urgent matter.

## Examples

- Please hurry, this is a matter of life and death.
- The doctor rushed into the room because the patient's condition had become a matter of life and death.
- The diplomat insisted that the treaty negotiations were a matter of life and death for the thousands of refugees currently stranded at the border.

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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.