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
The real reward for Hamas would be the death of a two-state outcome.
—
Dennis Ross, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
This final season will include the period between 1997 and 2005 — the chief drama will be the death of Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and its aftermath.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2023
The eventual result, they foretell, will be the death of urban real estate.
—Jan Mischke, Fortune, 20 July 2023
Air space can be the death of a cooler, because the ice (and ice packs) will be used to cool the air.
—Jeff Dengate, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023
Air space can be the death of a cooler, because the ice (and ice packs) will be used to cool the air.
—Jeff Dengate, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023
One of the biggest trends business owners will see over the next couple of years will be the death of passwords.
—Gene Marks, Forbes, 22 May 2022
No one knows yet whether the commission’s decision will be the death of the city’s Broadway project.
—Greg Jefferson, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2022
Neglecting it for too long will be the death of us.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 June 2020
Dennis Ross, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024
This final season will include the period between 1997 and 2005 — the chief drama will be the death of Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and its aftermath.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2023
The eventual result, they foretell, will be the death of urban real estate.
—Jan Mischke, Fortune, 20 July 2023
Air space can be the death of a cooler, because the ice (and ice packs) will be used to cool the air.
—Jeff Dengate, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023
Air space can be the death of a cooler, because the ice (and ice packs) will be used to cool the air.
—Jeff Dengate, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023
One of the biggest trends business owners will see over the next couple of years will be the death of passwords.
—Gene Marks, Forbes, 22 May 2022
No one knows yet whether the commission’s decision will be the death of the city’s Broadway project.
—Greg Jefferson, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2022
Neglecting it for too long will be the death of us.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be the death of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 26 Apr. 2024.
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