Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

dead as a doorknob en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

Possibly from a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of the expression dead as a doornail. See usage notes below.

Meanings

  1. (qualifier:simile) Entirely, unquestionably or certainly dead.
    • I tried the flashlight, but the battery was as dead as a doorknob.
    • I found the mouse who lived in our wall, lying on his back with his feet in the air—as dead as a doorknob.

Translations (3)

fi kuollut kuin kivi (unquestionably dead (see here)) · nb død som en sild (unquestionably dead (see here)) · da død som en sild (unquestionably dead (see here))