dead on arrival

dead on arrival

1. Literally, dead by the time one reaches the hospital. The paramedic wheeling in the gurney said that this guy was dead on arrival.
2. By extension, defunct in the very early stages. It seems like that idea from last week's meeting was dead on arrival—the CEO has already vetoed it.
See also: dead, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • DOA
  • dead men tell no tales
  • quick and the dead
  • quick and the dead, the
  • the quick and the dead
  • play possum
  • play possum, to
  • possum
  • better
  • president
References in periodicals archive
The victim was declared dead on arrival at the Hofileaa Hospital.
2 village chiefs shot dead
'Merong tatlong children na namatay, dead on arrival actually, smashed by a collapsed wall, ranging yung age niya from 1 to 3,' Fernando said in an interview with INQUIRER.net on Wednesday.
Wall collapsed by quake kills 3 kids, woman in Porac
Ebidag was found unconscious under the water by her boyfriend, who rushed her to the Dasol Community Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
7 drown in Northern Luzon
Magleo was brought to the Mapandan Community Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. YOLANDA SOTELO
3 dead in separate Pangasinan road mishaps
The victims were declared dead on arrival in a hospital.
5 dead in motorbike mishaps
A woman was declared dead on arrival at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital after she was hit by a motorcycle at 6:40 p.m.
Woman dead after being bumped by motorcycle in Digos City
A widower was declared dead on arrival at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital after he was hit by a red Mitsubishi Montero as he was crossing the national highway around 9 p.m.
Man dies after vehicle hit him in Gensan-Digos highway
Domao-ilwas pronounced dead on arrival at the Bontoc General Hospital, where his companion Johnson Faroden died while being treated.
Pickup, SUV fall into Mountain Province ravine 4 dead
A chairman of a local Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) was dead on arrival at a hospital after he figured in a car accident in Barangay Sto.
SK chairman dead in Bulacan car accident
He was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital.
Drug war: 3 dead, 25 arrested
The vice mayor and the driver were taken to Lorma Medical Center in San Fernando City, where the driver was declared dead on arrival.
La Union town mayor, along with driver and cop, killed in ambush