to die in harness
Preserved but no longer current.
To continue in one's work or occupation till death. The allusion is to a horse working in harness until it falls down dead, or to soldiers in armour or harness. At least we'll die with harness on our back.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to die in harness” mean?
To continue in one's work or occupation till death. The allusion is to a horse working in harness until it falls down dead, or to soldiers in armour or harness. At least we'll die with harness on our back.
Is “to die in harness” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.