toll the death knell

toll the death knell

To cause or signal the impending end or ruin of something, especially a business, organization, or activity. Refers to the sound of a bell ringing (the knell) from a church to indicate that someone has died. The geometric expansion of the Internet and digital media has tolled the death knell for countless print-based businesses around the world.
See also: death, knell, toll
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • death knell
  • knell
  • sound the death knell
  • sound the death knell of something
  • ring the knell of
  • ring the knell of (something)
  • ring down the curtain
  • ring down the curtain on
  • ring the curtain down
  • ring the curtain down (on something)
References in periodicals archive
Their contemptible activity has started to toll the death knell for Gorsilaure.
CUT-OFF NUN SUES TalkTalk FOR pounds 1m; Telecoms giants 'put poor kids' lives at risk in Congo' EXCLUSIVE
This will toll the death knell of the village post office in thousands of rural communities.
Elderly humiliated
Liberalisation may also toll the death knell for the infamous Cargo waiver system.
Freight in Africa: full steam ahead
This conclusion would toll the death knell to the pay-as-you-go method of accounting for OPEBs, which presently is used by the vast majority of companies providing benefits to retired employees.
Before the FASB's OPEB ruling: the first steps to take