dead on arrival
idiom
: having died before getting to a hospital, emergency room, etc.
The victim was dead on arrival at the hospital.
—often used figurativelySome are saying that any new tax proposal would be dead on arrival.
Examples of dead on arrival in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Taylor was also taken to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival, per Newsweek.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
This first test of diplomacy, seemingly dead on arrival, is somehow yet to cast future endeavors as problematic.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
So bank mergers were pretty much dead on arrival,’’ DeAngelo observes.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Taylor was also taken to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival, per Newsweek.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
This first test of diplomacy, seemingly dead on arrival, is somehow yet to cast future endeavors as problematic.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
So bank mergers were pretty much dead on arrival,’’ DeAngelo observes.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead on arrival
Cite this Entry
“Dead on arrival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20on%20arrival. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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