kill or cure

Said of something that can only have one of two outcomes: very negative ("kill") or very positive ("cure"). We're all anxiously awaiting the dean's decision on grant money, as it will kill or cure our research.

See also: cure, kill

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kill or cure

Either remedy a disease or kill the patient, as in The copy chief did not like her headline for the drug, "Kill or Cure." This expression dates from the mid-1700s, when it was already being used half-jokingly.

See also: cure, kill

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

kill or cure

(of a remedy for a problem) likely to either work well or fail catastrophically, with no possibility of partial success. British

1998 Richard Gordon Ailments through the Ages Mackenzie complained that the Germans' policy was ‘kill or cure’: if they tried an elaborate laryngectomy, it would turn them from surgeons into assassins.

See also: cure, kill

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌkill or ˈcure

(British English) extreme action which will either be a complete success or a complete failure: This new chemical will either clean the painting perfectly or it will damage it badly. It’s kill or cure.

See also: cure, kill

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

accentuate
accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative
watch the clock
merchant of doom
Morton's fork
you can bet the farm that (something will happen or is the case)
brood over
brood over (someone or something)
have (someone) on the string
have on the string

References in periodicals archive

Natural History New Zealand, a unit of the Fox Television Group, has embarked on its first co-production with the Discovery Health channel -- a six-part series entitled "Kill or Cure: The Bizarre and Curious History of Medicine."

Due for delivery next April, "Kill or Cure" will look at medical research through the ages, from the discovery of penicillin to the role the Beatles played in the invention of the CT scanner.

Fox subsid sets up health co-prod'n

词组	kill or cure
释义	kill or cure kill or cure Said of something that can only have one of two outcomes: very negative ("kill") or very positive ("cure"). We're all anxiously awaiting the dean's decision on grant money, as it will kill or cure our research. See also: cure, kill Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. kill or cure Either remedy a disease or kill the patient, as in The copy chief did not like her headline for the drug, "Kill or Cure." This expression dates from the mid-1700s, when it was already being used half-jokingly. See also: cure, kill The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. kill or cure (of a remedy for a problem) likely to either work well or fail catastrophically, with no possibility of partial success. British 1998 Richard Gordon Ailments through the Ages Mackenzie complained that the Germans' policy was ‘kill or cure’: if they tried an elaborate laryngectomy, it would turn them from surgeons into assassins. See also: cure, kill Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary ˌkill or ˈcure (British English) extreme action which will either be a complete success or a complete failure: This new chemical will either clean the painting perfectly or it will damage it badly. It’s kill or cure. See also: cure, kill Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: accentuate accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative watch the clock merchant of doom Morton's fork you can bet the farm that (something will happen or is the case) brood over brood over (someone or something) have (someone) on the string have on the string References in periodicals archive Natural History New Zealand, a unit of the Fox Television Group, has embarked on its first co-production with the Discovery Health channel -- a six-part series entitled "Kill or Cure: The Bizarre and Curious History of Medicine." Due for delivery next April, "Kill or Cure" will look at medical research through the ages, from the discovery of penicillin to the role the Beatles played in the invention of the CT scanner. Fox subsid sets up health co-prod'n
随便看	BYO BYOB BYOM by one's bootstraps by (oneself) by oneself by (one's) fingertips by (one's) lights by (one's) (own) bootstraps by (one's) own fair hand(s) by (one's) own hand by (one's) wits by one's wits by/on/under false pretences by ourselves BYOW by popular demand by reason of by request by return by return mail by return mail and by return post by return (of post) by return post by rights