death on

Idioms

Very effective against; also, very fond of. For example, “He is a wonderful fielder and sure death on bunts” (Christy Mathewson, Pitching, 1912), or The boss is death on tardiness, or She's death on the latest fashions. [Slang; early 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His Cannes festival shots are on display until October 11 at the museum in Istanbul, opened in 2018, two months before his death on his 90th birthday.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

News of Foreman’s death on Tuesday was confirmed by Cat Power’s label, Matador Records.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

He did not beat his chest and threaten to rain death on his Confederate adversaries.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

After Ronald's sudden death on 19 August from heart disease last year, his family wanted to see his body to say one final goodbye.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

She didn’t need another death on her conscience.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023