matter of life and death
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
This may be a matter of life and death.Đây có thể là vấn đề sống còn.
Tatoeba sentence #12581594 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Common questions
What does “matter of life and death” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “matter of life and death” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.