Dead can mean many different things when it is used idiomatically. The basic meaning is 'no longer living', but there are also other meanings, such as 'complete' and 'exact'.
- dead beat / tired (inf.): extremely tired, exhausted.
- dead drunk: completely drunk.
- to be dead against sth/sb: to be completely against or opposed to that thing or person.
My father is dead against my entire college.
- a dead-end job: a job without prospects.
- to beat / reach/ come to a (total) deadlock: to fail to agree or to compromise or to settle a dispute.
- to be at / reach / come to a dead end: to be at the stage where you cannot make further progress, usually because of problems or difficulties.
- to cut (sb) dead: to ignore sb, treat him as if you do not know him.
- to flog / beat a dead horse (inf.): to waste one's time or efforts.
Explaining grammar to Peter is like flogging a dead horse. He just can't take it in.
- to make a dead set at sb: to make a deliberate attack on sb, often with words.
- to wait for a dead man's shoes: to wait for an advantage which will result from sb's death.
- dead in the water: completely inactive or inoperable; no longer in action or under consideration.
Our plans to expand the business have been dead in the water for the past two months.
- dead to rights: in the very act of committing a crime, offense, or mistake; red-handed.
- dead from the neck up: stupid or unintelligent.
- dead to the world: unaware of one's surroundings, esp fast asleep or very drunk.
- knock (so) dead definition: to put on a stunning performance or display for someone.
She knocked us dead with her stunning performance.
- more dead than alive: exhausted, in poor condition. This idiom may be used either hyperbolically or literally.
By the time I got off that mountain I was more dead than alive.
- over my dead body: in no way, under no circumstances. This hyperbolic expression is often used jokingly.
Over my dead body will you drop out of high school.
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