on pain of death
on pain of death
With the threat of dying or being executed as a punishment. Sometimes used hyperbolically. The prisoners were forced to march on pain of death from the POW camp across the burning desert. I am on strict instructions from my wife not to peek into the garage until she's done her surprise project, on pain of death!
See also: death, of, on, pain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- be a fate worse than death
- (one's) head on a plate/platter
- get out with (one's) life
- get out with life
- a labour of Hercules
- everyone and their brother
- as far as the eye can see
- as far as the eye can/could see
- a reign of terror
- frightened to death