do or die

do or die

Meaning

• a situation in which you must take a big risk in order to avoid failure
• requiring supreme effort to avoid the dire consequences of failure
• to try to achieve a goal or fail making the effort
• involving a determined and sometimes reckless effort to succeed
• reflecting or characterized by an irrevocable decision to succeed at all costs
• a situation that is extremely important, and failure would result in a big problem

Example Sentences

1. A do-or-die attempt to halt the invaders.
2. Exams are near it's do or die people.
3. On Wednesday, it's do or die in the Cricket match against Australia.
4. When Quentin had to give a presentation to some new clients, his boss warned him that it would be a do or die situation.
5. Well, I guess it is do-or-die so decide if you really want to join our team.
6. He was in a do-or-die situation to the bitter end.
7. A do-or-die situation
8. I am working hard to defeat my competitor and to win I have to do or die.
9. When I was lost in desert, it was a do or die situation for me to survive.

Origin

Scotland, present since 1875-80.

The term “do or die” comes from Robert Burns' poem “Robert Bruce's March to Bannockburn” which was a poem about the first War of Scottish Independence. The last stanza of the poem reads:

“Lay the profound Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us Do-or-Die!”