at death's door
Very near death; dying.
He seemed to be at death's door from his illness.
between life and death
In danger of dying or being killed; with life or death possible.
He held on to the mountainside between life and death while his friends went to get help.
The little sick girl lay all night between life and death until her fever was gone.
catch one's death of
take one's death of
To become very ill with (a cold, pneumonia, flu). Sometimes used in the short form catch your death.
Johnny fell in the icy water and almost took his death of cold.
"Johnny! Come right in here and put your coat and hat on. You'll catch your death!"
death knell
The ringing of a bell at a death or funeral.
The people mourned at the death knell of their friend.
Something which shows a future failure.
Bill's poor grade on his final examination sounded the death knell of his hope to be a doctor.
His sudden deafness was the death knell of his hope to become President.
death on
Very successful in meeting or dealing with.
Joe is death on fast balls. He usually knocks them out of the park.
Disliking or strongly against; very strict about.
The new teacher is death on students who come late to class.
The twins' grandmother is death on smoking.
do to death
To overdo; do something so often that it becomes extremely boring or tiresome.
The typical car chase scene in motion pictures has been done to death.
look like death warmed over
Выглядеть очень больным.
Tim was very pale and looked like death warmed over, so I couldn’t help asking him what the matter was.
Тим был очень бледным, выглядел больным, так что я не мог удержаться от вопроса, что с ним случилось.
matter of life and death
Вопрос жизни и смерти; жизненно важный вопрос.
"Do be serious for just five minutes! After all, it is a matter of life and death."
"Да побудь ты серьезным хоть 5 минут! В конце концов, это жизненно важный вопрос!"