# the rabbit died

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-rabbit-died
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Indicates one's own pregnancy, or that someone has found out they are pregnant.

## Examples

- She told her partner that the rabbit died.
- I think the rabbit died because I feel different this morning.
- After feeling sick for a week, she took a test and realized the rabbit died.
- My grandmother used to say the rabbit died to tell her friends she was expecting a baby.
- He looked shocked when his wife whispered that the rabbit died while they were out at dinner.
- The doctor called with the results of my blood work to confirm that the rabbit died, so we should start planning the nursery soon.
- In a moment of quiet realization, she understood that the rabbit died and her life was about to change forever.

## Origin

The phrase refers to the rabbit test, a form of pregnancy detection developed in the 1920s. Though the expression suggests the animal’s demise was a specific indicator of a positive result, in practice all rabbits used in the procedure were killed so their ovaries could be inspected for changes. The idiom persisted as a euphemism for pregnancy long after the biological necessity of the rabbit had been superseded by chemical alternatives.

---

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.