death seat

American

noun

the passenger seat next to the driver in an automobile, regarded as dangerous in the event of a collision.

death seat British

noun

slang the seat beside the driver of a vehicle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of death seat

First recorded in 1940–45

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.

Chambers was in the front passenger seat, “the death seat,” and was the only one seriously hurt.

From Washington Times

I feel like I’m in the death seat of a car.

From New York Times

While dozing in what is called the death seat, Hege opened his eyes and saw the needle of the speedometer firmly pointing to 100.

From New York Times

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