be the death of
idiom
: to cause (someone) to die
I worry that his drug addiction will be the death of him.
—often used figuratively suggesting concern or frustrationThose kids will be the death of me!
Examples of be the death of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wednesday spent her summer getting a grip on those psychic powers, which we were warned would be the death of her but have actually caused her literally zero problems so far.
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Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Critics say adopting socialist positions would bring widespread electoral losses and prove to be the death of the Democratic Party.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2025
Political parties will be the death of American democracy.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
This show and this couple are going to be the death of me.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for be the death of
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Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Critics say adopting socialist positions would bring widespread electoral losses and prove to be the death of the Democratic Party.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2025
Political parties will be the death of American democracy.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
This show and this couple are going to be the death of me.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for be the death of
Cite this Entry
“Be the death of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20the%20death%20of. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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