dead as a doornail
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Unquestionably dead. Used for both inanimate objects and once living beings.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I picked up the phone, but the line was dead as a doornail.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Simile (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “dead as a doornail” mean?
Unquestionably dead. Used for both inanimate objects and once living beings.
Is “dead as a doornail” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.