dodo

(as) dead as a dodo

Outdatedor unpopular. The "dodo" is an extinct bird. Although popular in the 1970s, disco music is as dead as a dodo today.
See also: dead, dodo

be as dead as a dodo

To be outdated or unpopular. The "dodo" is a now-extinct bird. Although popular in the 1970s, disco music is as dead as a dodo today.
See also: dead, dodo

dumb-dodo

slang Someone who is very stupid. Can you believe that dumb-dodo is still pushing the door marked "pull"?

go the way of the dodo

To become outdated or obsolete. (The "dodo" is an extinct bird.) The prevalence of cell phones today has caused landlines to go the way of the dodo.
See also: dodo, go, of, way
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*dead as a dodo

 and *dead as a doornail; deader than a doornail
dead; no longer in existence. (*Also: as ~.) That silly old idea is dead as a dodo. When I tried to start my car this morning, I discovered that the battery was deader than a doornail.
See also: dead, dodo

go the way of the dodo

 and go the way of the horse and buggy
Fig. to become extinct; to become obsolete. The floppy disc has gone the way of the horse and buggy.
See also: dodo, go, of, way
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

dead as a doornail

Also, dead as a dodo or herring . Totally or assuredly dead; also finished. For example, The cop announced that the body in the dumpster was dead as a doornail, or The radicalism she professed in her adolescence is now dead as a dodo, or The Equal Rights Amendment appears to be dead as a herring. The first, oldest, and most common of these similes, all of which can be applied literally to persons or, more often today, to issues, involves doornail, dating from about 1350. Its meaning is disputed but most likely it referred to the costly metal nails hammered into the outer doors of the wealthy (most people used the much cheaper wooden pegs), which were clinched on the inside of the door and therefore were "dead," that is, could not be used again. Dead as a herring dates from the 16th century and no doubt alludes to the bad smell this dead fish gives off, making its death quite obvious. Dead as a dodo, referring to the extinct bird, dates from the early 1900s.
See also: dead, doornail

dodo

see under dead as a doornail.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

dead as a dodo

BRITISH
If something is as dead as a dodo, it is no longer active or popular. The foreign exchange market was as dead as a dodo. Note: The dodo was a large flightless bird that lived on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion. It became extinct in the late 17th century as a result of hunting and the destruction of its nests by pigs belonging to settlers on the islands.
See also: dead, dodo

dead as a doornail

1. If a person or animal is as dead as a doornail, they are completely dead. From the start of the movie it is clear that she will be as dead as a doornail by the time the credits roll.
2. If something or someone is as dead as a doornail, they are no longer active or popular. My $2,500 computer was dead as a doornail. Nobody will hire him now. He's finished. Dead as a doornail. Note: It is not certain what `doornail' actually refers to. In medieval times, it may have been the plate or knob on a door which was hit by the knocker. It was thought that anything that was struck so often must have been dead. Alternatively, doornails may have been the thick nails which were set into outer doors. It is not clear why these nails should be described as `dead'.
See also: dead, doornail
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

dead as a (or the) dodo

1 no longer alive. 2 no longer effective, valid, or interesting. informal
The name dodo comes from Portuguese duodo meaning ‘simpleton’. It was applied to the large flightless bird of Mauritius because the bird had no fear of man and so was easily killed, being quickly wiped out by visiting European sailors. The dodo's fate has made it proverbial for something that is long dead and the name has been used metaphorically for an old-fashioned, stupid, or unenlightened person since the 19th century.
2000 John Caughie Television Drama The once pleasant family hour is now as dead as a dodo.
See also: dead, dodo

dead as a doornail (or as mutton)

completely dead.
A doornail was one of the large iron studs formerly often used on doors for ornamentation or for added strength; the word occurred in various alliterative phrases (e.g. deaf as a doornail and dour as a doornail ) but dead as a doornail is now the only one in common use.
See also: dead, doornail
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(as) dead as a/the ˈdodo

(informal) no longer in existence; very old-fashioned: Old business practices are as dead as a dodo in the computer age.
The dodo was a large bird that could not fly. It is now extinct (= it no longer exists).
See also: dead, dodo

(as) ˌdead as a ˈdoornail

(informal) completely dead
See also: dead, doornail
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

dumb-dodo

(ˈdəmˈdodo)
n. a very stupid person. What a dumb-dodo you are!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

dead as a doornail

Undoubtedly dead.
See also: dead, doornail
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

dead as a doornail

Dead, unresponsive, defunct. This simile dates from the fourteenth century and the source of it has been lost. A doornail was either a heavy-headed nail for studding an outer door or the knob on which a door knocker strikes. One plausible explanation for the analogy to death is that it alluded to costly metal nails (rather than cheap wooden pegs), which were clinched and hence “dead” (could not be re-used). The expression was used in a fourteenth-century poem of unknown authorship, William of Palerne, and was still current when Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol (1843). There have been numerous similar proverbial comparisons—dead as a mackerel, dead as mutton, dead as a herring, dead as a stone—but this one, with its alliterative lilt, has survived longest.
See also: dead, doornail
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • dead as a dodo
  • dead as a/the dodo
  • (as) dead as a dodo
  • be as dead as a dodo
  • quick and the dead
  • quick and the dead, the
  • the quick and the dead
  • play possum
  • play possum, to
  • possum
References in periodicals archive
Katherine Conner sits behind an elephant in 'DoDo Heroes'
One-of-a-kind elephant sanctuary in Asia
Izzie Lerer, founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Dodo added, "We've built our audience on the back of our uniquely emotional approach to storytelling eAE putting animals front and center, and showcasing the delightful, inspiring things they do every day.
BuzzFeed and the Dodo Help Make Every Day Epic in Super Slow-Mo With the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
Either the dodo never made it to London alive - which raises questions about how the remains were preserved - or it was shot shortly after coming.
Was 'Oxford Dodo' Shot?
Overhunting and habitat loss drove dodos (Raphus cucullatus) extinct about a century after humans invaded the birds' island home, Mauritius, in 1507.
The dodo was no dummy
The Dortmund full-back hooked the ball off the line as Sergei Zenjov's shot was headed goalwards and three minutes later, intervened to clear at the last minute with Dodo ready to pounce in the six-yard box.
Europa League: Aubameyang hat trick seals Dortmund win
"It is not about unemployment or poverty that we attributed the insurgency to when it initially reared its ugly head in 2009, but, rather, it is due to wrong religious indoctrination," Dodo said.
Bishop condemns suicide blast
The new facility is helping Dodo and the West Central team expand its outreach and customer base due to increased efficiency and continued quality of its services that its customers expect.
Wholesale Food Distributor West Central Produce & Food Service Expand to New Headquarters
POSSIBLY the world's best preserved remains of the Dodo will feature as part of a display being hosted in Cardiff this week.
Alas, poor Dodo, star at museum
Dodo and her younger brother, Wolfie, are sent by their housekeeper to the countryside from London during the worst of the WWII bombing, after their father, a Victoria Cross recipient during WWI who has been called back to duty, is reported missing in action.
Angus, Sam. A Horse Called Hero
In a reference to the film's Polly - the dodo that thinks it's a parrot - visitors will also have the chance to see the renowned Oxford Dodo.
WIN tickets to a fun pirate adventure
Earlier this year, California-based company Diablo Ballet performed Flight of the Dodo, a dance created from suggestions that had been tweeted by the audience.
Dancing with the crowds: an audience-engagement idea taken to the next step leads to a crowdsourced ballet
Ritchie of Stevenson YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION WEE THINKER ACROSS: 7 Rampage 9 Odium 10 Assam 11 Topsail 12 Eli 13 Fortress 16 Integral 17 Hut 19 Rebuffs 21 Debts 22 Carol 23 Scourge DOWN: 1 Greased 2 Emission 3 Warm 4 Corporal 5 Pisa 6 Imply 8 Enterprises 13 Free fall 14 Schubert 15 Stashed 18 Brick 20 Bare 21 Doom QUICKIE ACROSS: 1 War memorial 8 Sag 9 Rid 11 Pleased 12 Friar 13 Old 14 Are 15 Vaulted 17 Kit 19 Used 21 Alec 23 Stop 25 Ripe 27 Aim 29 Treason 31 Apt 34 Den 36 Crumb 37 Tugboat 38 Tot 39 Dry 40 Publication DOWN: 1 Wall 2 Aged 3 Message 4 Muddle 5 Rifle 6 Aria 7 Liar 8 Spook 10 Dread 16 Duo 18 Tap 20 Spa 22 Let 24 Thought 25 React 26 Tactic 28 Minty 30 Rebel 32 Prop 33 Tutu 34 Dodo 35 Earn
PS200 Xword
Cosmo, the last dodo bird on Earth, finds himself in terrible trouble, running from the evil Captain Tork.
Early chapter books: appealing to independent readers ages 6-11
If you've dropped your mobile in water and find that it's dead as a dodo, here's an idea that could bring it back to life.
If you've dropped your mobile [...]; Our trade secrets