dead to the world

dead to the world

1. Sleeping very soundly. Don't worry, the vacuum won't wake him—he's dead to the world.
2. Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were dead to the world!
See also: dead, world
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dead to the world

 
1. sound asleep. After all that exercise, he's dead to the world. He's dead to the world, and I can't rouse him.
2. . intoxicated. Six beers and he was dead to the world. By midnight almost everybody at the party was dead to the world.
See also: dead, world
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

dead to the world

Sound asleep or unconscious, as in The alarm clock went off but Joseph was dead to the world. [Late 1800s]
See also: dead, world
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

dead to the world

INFORMAL
If someone is dead to the world, they are sleeping very deeply. Sarah was dead to the world by the time I came to bed. Both kids were dead to the world and the house was silent.
See also: dead, world
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

dead to the world

fast asleep; unconscious. informal
2000 Michael Ondaatje Anil's Ghost The nurse tried to wake him, but he was dead to the world.
See also: dead, world
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌdead to the ˈworld

(informal) deeply asleep: Within two minutes of getting into bed, I was dead to the world.
See also: dead, world
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

dead to the world

1. mod. sound asleep. After all that exercise, he’s dead to the world.
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. By midnight almost everybody was dead to the world.
See also: dead, world
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

dead to the world

Soundly asleep.
See also: dead, world
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

dead to the world

Asleep or unconscious, and hence oblivious to one’s surroundings. That deep sleep resembles death was noted in biblical times, but the precise expression does not surface in print until 1899 or so (“Our host is dead to the world,” George Ade, Doc’ Horne).
See also: dead, world
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be out like a light
  • be/go out like a light
  • be dead to the world
  • corkscrew
  • dead drunk
  • boozy
  • crump
  • funky-drunk
  • glazed drunk
  • cross-eyed drunk
References in periodicals archive
Charlaine Harris is the author of four previous Sookie Stackhouse novels; Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, and Dead to the World. She is also the author of two popular mystery novel series, the Aurora Tegarden series and the Lily Bard Shakespeare series.
Dead as a Doornail
A song like "Dead to the World" lands somewhere between the more listenable of late-'70s prog-rock and the Iron Maiden side of '80s metal.
Straight Outta Finland
He was placed in an artificial coma after the operation due to complications which meant he was dead to the world for two months following the procedure.
WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BALLS-UP; Hospital CASTRATES healthy pensioner instead of removing his GALLSTONES
It's the day the seventh and final Harry Potter book is launched, a day when half the eight-to-15-year-olds in the country are curled up on the sofa, dead to the world, as they mop up JK's latest offering.
off the Record
Fergus apparently waved an arm at him as he left the marital and baby bed but I was apparently dead to the world. In fact so dead to the world that I missed the alarm and overslept.
The secret diary of a demented mother aged 36.5
Despite being surrounded by people, Amy, who is being treated by doctors for her drug addiction, was dead to the world as she arrived back at home in Bow, East London.
3AM: Back to blackout; EXCLUSIVE COMATOSE AMY AFTER COP QUIZ
That apart, if you only do it while you're asleep, the chances any partner will also be dead to the world and won't even notice your thumb sucking.
Problem Page: I'm single because I suck my thumb
There was no pulse and no sign of life, she was dead to the world." The girl was last night in a stable condition.
LIGHTNING HITS GIRL
It's about a Virginia furniture maker called Micheal McCann (Martin), who goes dead to the world when his wife tells him that she's got a bun in the oven and he's not the chef.
FILM CHOICE; Steve is serious
Wait until they're very drunk and dead to the world. Balance lots of objects on top of them (Chocolate Hob Nobs or items of furniture work best).
Amy's i: SITE OF THE DAY http://benjanaway.users.btopenworld.com/EFE.htm