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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]
Synonyms

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.

do-or-die British  

adjective

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

"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
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]

Etymology

Origin of do-or-die

First recorded in 1875–80

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.

The full gamut of emotions synonymous with do-or-die international football was on display as the Republic of Ireland's World Cup dream was left in ruins following a devastating penalty shootout defeat by the Czech Republic.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

However, it isn’t a do-or-die proposition for IBM, Woodring points out.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

“In a do-or-die situation,” Rojas had told him.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

With their season on the line in a do-or-die playoff game, the Yankees turned to Schlittler, a hard-throwing right-hander who didn’t make his major-league debut until July.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

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

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.