a matter of life and death
noun phrase
: something that is extremely important and often involves decisions that will determine whether someone lives or dies
Being prepared for severe weather can be a matter of life and death.
Examples of a matter of life and death in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nation: On the high seas between Florida and Cuba, US immigration policy a matter of life and death Five months after being rescued, however, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno ordered federal law enforcement officials to seize him.
—
Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near a matter of life and death
Cite this Entry
“A matter of life and death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of%20life%20and%20death. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share