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Region: General | Usage example: He was dead to the world after the overnight shift.

Dead to the world

Meaning

Completely unconscious or unresponsive, especially while sleeping.

Usage

Used humorously when someone sleeps soundly or ignores chaos.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Biblical language about spiritual unawareness.

Used in literature since the 18th century.

Related Idioms

Dead as a doornail

Completely dead or inactive.

Dead as a door nail

Completely dead or inactive.

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.