one foot in the grave

one foot in the grave

On the verge of death. When I had the flu last week, I felt like I had one foot in the grave. The way the nurses are talking, it sounds like Great-Uncle Edmund is already one foot in the grave—you had better come to the hospital quick.
See also: foot, grave, one
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

one foot in the grave

If someone has one foot in the grave, they are very ill or very old and are likely to die soon. Just because I'm 79, you think I've got one foot in the grave! Note: You use this expression when you are talking about illness and death in a humorous way.
See also: foot, grave, one
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

one foot in the grave

On the verge of death. This graphic hyperbole was already being used in the sixteenth century, when William Painter wrote (The Pallace of Pleasure, 1566), “Takyng paines to visite him, who hath one of his feet alreadie within the graue, and the other stepping after with conuenient speede.”
See also: foot, grave, one
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • have one foot in the grave
  • one foot in the grave, have
  • give up the ghost
  • give up the ghost, to
  • go the way of all flesh
  • leave to (one)
  • be for the chop
  • chop
  • uncle
  • Uncle!
References in periodicals archive
But the claims were dismissed as "cynical and ridiculous" by ITV - who stressed that Millionaire's ratings have easily topped One Foot In The Grave's.
Fix row as Camilla cousin wins TV pounds 1m
All I can say is that we havent seen the last of Victor Meldrew or One Foot In The Grave."
Victors foot is not in the grave
The Complete One Foot in the Grave is a comprehensive guide to the hit TV show that had millions tuning in to hear miserable Victor's rantings and ravings.
Books: COMEDY
I'd have played my hunch, ditched the 45-minute long self-congratulatory One Foot In The Grave Story which preceded it, and run the episode well ahead of Millionaire.
A whiff of sour grapes in the air
It is not yet known how quickly the unofficial viewing figures could be available to settle the ratings clash between the quiz and the last episode of One Foot In The Grave, which showed the death of Victor Meldrew.
Battle for ratings war
"There's a natural shelf life for any project and any character and it feels like the right time to draw the final curtain on Victor and One Foot In The Grave.
One Foot In The Grave began in 1990 and the last full series was in 1995.
BOTH FEET IN THE GRAVE; They are killing off Victor
The other good news for the Beeb - and for all fans of great comedy - is that Scots stars Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie are together again for a special edition of One Foot In The Grave.
Del Boy is tip for the top
ONE Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson is to star in a gritty drama about medical ethics.
Richard courts a new role
11.55: One Foot in the Grave supremos give United permission to talk to Meldrew.
12 noon: Wee Tam quits Leeds to star in One Foot in the Grave.
1.34: Wee Tam quits One Foot in the Grave to manage Millwall.
1.55: Wee Jum quits United to star in One Foot in the Grave.
1.56: One Foot in the Grave axe Wee Jum for being too miserable
Let's go to someone else's work; THERE'S A MOUNTAIN OF IT FOR MUNRO BAGGERS