death wish

death wish

A desire, either conscious or, most often, unconscious, to die or to ruin oneself. The term dates from the late 1800s and originally was a translation from the German psychological term, Todeswunsch. By the 1930s it was being used figuratively, as in a 1947 article in the Partisan Review: “Even in America the death-wish of the business community appears to go beyond the normal limits of political incompetence and geographical security.”
See also: death, wish
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
  • wash hands of
  • wash one's hands of
  • wash your hands of
  • wash your hands of somebody/something
  • wash your hands of something/someone
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
  • keep sight of
  • keep sight of somebody/something
References in periodicals archive
Tommy is extremely intelligent but he has a death wish Helen McCrory
The rule of the mob; Cillian Murphy's gangster Tommy Shelby is now an MP Peaky Blinders BBC1, Sunday, 9pm & Monday, 9.30pm
Winner - whose 30 films included the controversial Death Wish series - died of liver disease aged 77 in 2013.
'Ex-lover' accused of raid on Michael Winner widow; Court told of [euro]170k robbery
The movie -- something like the western-inspired black comedy "Death Wish" filtered through "Pulp Fiction" glibness -- takes a jab at European arrogance when white Colorado residents regard Native Americans as invaders on their own turf.
Liam Neeson goes super vigilante in blackly comic 'Cold Pursuit' -BYLN-
But while the original Death Wish spawned four sequels, this cliched, unimaginative remake is likely to be a one-anddone attempt at a series resurrection.
Sedate Willis on life-support
Arriving in the middle of a debate on gun-control, Death Wish makes feeble attempts to debate the righteousness of Paul's actions but on screen, it's a one-sided argument in favour of repeatedly pulling a trigger.
DEATH WISH ([...]
DEATH WISH (15) HH HHH SINCE writer-director Eli Roth made his debut with the lowbudget horror, Cabin Fever, in 2002, the film-maker embraced his reputation as one of modern cinema's maestros of gore.
DEATH WISH
It's nice (or not nice, according to taste) to have two disturbing, disreputable B-movies opening in the same week -- but Mom and Dad is authentically unhinged and over-the-top whereas Death Wish , remaking the Charles Bronson cult classic from 1974, is just dull and distasteful.
Film review: Death Wish *
Willis, whose performances have always contained a deep and layered understanding of his characters and the times they live in, is seen as Paul Kersey in Death Wish. He saw Kersey as a man who lay down and followed his own preordained path.
Everything happens the way it's supposed to: Bruce Willis
Death Wish advertisements designed to lure patrons to movie theaters across the U.S.
This Spot Cable Campaign Is All About A 'Death Wish'
Marvel and Disney's (DIS) "Black Panther," which has already earned over $428M domestically, is looking hold off new releases "Red Sparrow" and "Death Wish" to take the top spot for the third weekend in a row.
Box Office Battle: 'Black Panther' to hold off 'Red Sparrow,' 'Death Wish'
How's this for irony: Death Wish Coffee recalled their cold brew cans Wednesday over concerns they contained potentially deadly toxins.
What Is Botulism? Death Wish Coffee Recalls Nitro Over Deadly Toxin Concern
Summary: New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): The remake of Eli Roth's 1974 film 'Death Wish' is already buzz of the town, but not for right reasons.
Bruce Willis' `Death Wish` remake slammed as racist
An internet debate has broken out over the trailer of movie remake 'Death Wish', with some netizens saying that Bruce Willis' shooting down of criminals is racist and ill-timed.
WATCH: Bruce Willis as gun-toting vigilante on 'Death Wish' sparks debate
The creators of "the world's strongest coffee," Death Wish Coffee Company, based in Round Lake, N.Y., took first place in the Intuit QuickBooks' Small Business Big Game competition last month, securing them a thirty-second commercial during American football's biggest game of the year, Super Bowl 50, which took place February 7th and was viewed by more than 100 million people.
Death Wish Coffee expands after Super Bowl 50 exposure
About 6% of those aged 65 years and older expressed a death wish or suicidal behavior, in a large population-based study.
Suicidality tied to physical disability, pain, isolation