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• do-or-die
  do-or-die

  adjective

  reflecting or characterized by an irrevocable decision to succeed at all costs; desperate; all-out.
• do or die
  do or die

  Exert supreme effort because failure is close at hand, as in Carol was going to set up the computer, do or die. This hyperbolic expression in effect says one will not be deterred by any obstacle. [c. 1600]

do-or-die

American  

[doo-er-dahy] / ˈdu ərˈdaɪ /

adjective

1. reflecting or characterized by an irrevocable decision to succeed at all costs; desperate; all-out.

   a do-or-die attempt to halt the invaders.

2. involving a potentially fatal crisis or crucial emergency.

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do-or-die British  

adjective

1. (prenominal) of or involving a determined and sometimes reckless effort to succeed

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do or die Idioms  

1. Exert supreme effort because failure is close at hand, as in Carol was going to set up the computer, do or die. This hyperbolic expression in effect says one will not be deterred by any obstacle. [c. 1600]

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Etymology

Origin of do-or-die

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

do-or-die do or die

How could the dominant team he knew lose a do-or-die game by 34 points?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Now, America can plan for at least one more at its home tournament after surviving the first of its do-or-die tests at this tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

“Earning points is useless because now comes the important part — do-or-die matches. We’re focused on that.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

He's the one you'd want in a do-or-die moment in America, a chance to keep Scotland alive in the tournament.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

And it occurs to me that even in these do-or-die moments, there’s still space for us to laugh.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Totsuka, 24, crashed on his final run, meaning it was do or die for James in the last run of the competition.

From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026

“It’s do or die for us out here right now.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2024

"It's going to be an epic against Italy, it's do or die," former Wales lock Ian Gough told Radio Wales Breakfast.

From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2024

“Once it gets to the knockout stages, you kind of become a different team. It’s just do or die at that point.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 1, 2023

“I thought people from Brooklyn are extra woke or whatever. And besides, Professor Bello is from Brooklyn, or that’s what I read in her bio. Bed-Stuy do or die, or something like that.”

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• championship
• clash
• event
• fight
• game
• match
• meeting
• race
• rivalry
• sport
• struggle
• tournament
• trial