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Region: General | Usage example: The old phone is dead as a doornail.

Dead as a doornail

Meaning

Completely dead or inactive.

Usage

Used literally or figuratively to describe lifeless things.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

References hammered nails that held doors closed and were utterly dead.

Found in 14th century English and popularized by Dickens.

Related Idioms

Dead as a door nail

Completely dead or inactive.

Dead to the world

Completely unconscious or unresponsive, especially while sleeping.

Beat a dead horse

Waste effort on something already decided.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.