fight to the death

fight to the death

1. verb Literally, to take part in a fight that will only end when one of the combatants is dead. It's a good thing the cops got here when they did—those two fools would have fought to the death.
2. verb By extension, to intensely pursue some outcome with a staunch commitment to refuse to accept defeat, compromise, or any form of resignation. They will fight to the death for positive change in the company's sexist culture.
3. noun Literally, a fight that will only end when one of the combatants is dead. Some prisoners were punished by being forced to have a fight to the death.
4. noun By extension, the intense pursuit of some outcome with a staunch commitment to refuse to accept defeat, compromise, or any form of resignation. They view it as a fight to the death for positive change in the company's sexist culture.
See also: death, fight
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fight to the death

to engage in a battle that isn't finished until one opponent is dead. The two men looked as though they were going to fight to the death. These evil-tempered dogs will fight to the death.
See also: death, fight
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

fight to the death

COMMON If someone fights to the death to achieve something or keep something, they try extremely hard to achieve it or keep it. I have been teaching home economics for 18 years and I will fight to the death to keep my place in the curriculum. What drove them was a corporate culture that made them fight to the death for their firms. Note: You can also talk about a fight to the death. Jimmy White now faces a fight to the death to reach the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Snooker Championship.
See also: death, fight
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • break out
  • fall out
  • fallout
  • be in
  • boogie
  • boogies
  • booging
  • close up
  • dig at
  • dig at (someone or something)
References in classic literature
All of virtue and chivalry and true manhood which his old guardian had neglected to inculcate in the boy's mind the good priest planted there, but he could not eradicate his deep-seated hatred for the English or his belief that the real test of manhood lay in a desire to fight to the death with a sword.
The Outlaw of Torn
When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.
Art of War
He shall fight to the death with one of these pigs from thy sty," and he pointed with his spear to the men of my father's kraal, "and the one who survives shall be run down as they tried to run you down.
Nada The Lily
Presently, filling Space, there sprang into being an Odour; and as it reached him Mr Ferguson stiffened in his chair, bracing himself as for a fight to the death. It was more than an odour.
The Man Upstairs and Other Stories
Tarzan saw, and in the instant that he saw, Teeka was no longer the little playmate of an hour ago; instead she was a wondrous thing--the most wondrous in the world--and a possession for which Tarzan would fight to the death against Taug or any other who dared question his right of proprietorship.
Jungle Tales of Tarzan
'And then we shall fight to the death, sha'n't we, Nelly?' she returned, laughing.
Wuthering Heights
Shere Khan might have faced Father Wolf, but he could not stand up against Mother Wolf, for he knew that where he was she had all the advantage of the ground, and would fight to the death. So he backed out of the cave mouth growling, and when he was clear he shouted:
Jungle Book
Gary finds himself in a fight to the death with Rick
CORONATION STREET ITV
The 'Ocean's 8' star further stated she would "fight to the death" to take on those roles.
Cate Blanchett defends straight actors' right to play LGBT roles
We will have to fight to the death for everything on offer.
PETERBOROUGH v BRISTOL ROV League []; MIKE WALTERS INSIDE FOOTBALL.. & OUTSIDE THE BOX; WALLY MEETS
Thus, when the jihadists sent an emissary to Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra, who had dug in at City Hall, to hand the building over to them, the mayor's maratabat was piqued, leading him to reply that he was ready to declare a rido or clan war against them and fight to the death rather than surrender.
'Maratabat' in Marawi
Asked about the fight for left back position after the signing of Theo Hernandez, he said, "Ever since I arrived, I have had to fight and do everything to be able to play, even if there wasn't another left-back." Marcelo praised Theo Hernandez's performance, saying, "Theo is very young, and he's going to help Real Madrid a lot; he has my total confidence and that of the coaches." Marcelo, 29 years old, talked about Real Madrid's ambition next season, saying, "My motivation is always the same, and I'll fight to the death with my team.
Marcelo takes Ronaldo's side
His soldiers danced to patriotic music on tanks and Iraqi state TV reported that prime minister Haider al-Abadi had arrived in the city to declare victory over IS, which now controls less than a square kilometre in the Old City, but is using human shields, suicide bombers and snipers in a fight to the death.
'Victory' in Mosul but battles go on; WORLD BULLETINS
The French writer Voltaire once said: "Although I hate what you are saying, I will fight to the death for your rights to say it."
On one thing Trump and I agree: freedom of speech
THE HUNGER GAMES 9.00pm, Film4 A totalitarian future-America holds an annual nationally televised event in which two children from each of its regions fight to the death until only one remains.
BEST OF THE BOX