do-or-die

English

Alternative forms

• do or die

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Adjective

do-or-die (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.
   • 1959 February, A. G. Dunbar, “The "Dunalastair I" 4-4-0s of the Caledonian”, in Trains Illustrated, page 86:

     At that period the L.N.W.R., with its Webb compounds, was addicted to late arrivals at Carlisle and the Caledonian proceeded to make up the arrears with a "do-or-die" attitude.

   • 1996 October 14, “Clinton v. Dole: Let the Debates Begin”, in Time:

     Clinton and Dole brought different needs to the debate. For Dole it was do or die. He had to hit Clinton hard but without seeming harsh, a conundrum for him all year.

   • 2021 June 30, Farhad Manjoo, “Democrats Have a Year to Save the Planet”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     This could be our do-or-die moment — with Democrats holding the White House and barely controlling Congress, this may be the country’s last best political opportunity to do something big on the climate.

Translations

desperate effort

• French: marche ou crève (fr), courir ou mourir
• Icelandic: duga eða drepast
• Maori: ranga mārō
• Portuguese: matar ou morrer
• Spanish: a matar o morir

See also

• sink or swim