a matter of life and death
noun phrase
: something that is extremely important and often involves decisions that will determine whether someone lives or dies
Being prepared for severe weather can be a matter of life and death.
Examples of a matter of life and death in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nation: On the high seas between Florida and Cuba, US immigration policy a matter of life and death Five months after being rescued, however, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno ordered federal law enforcement officials to seize him.
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Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a matter of life and death.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“A matter of life and death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of%20life%20and%20death. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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