strike (someone) dead

idiom

: to kill (someone) in a quick and unexpected way
A bolt of lightning struck him dead.

Examples of strike (someone) dead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thomas Sheehan, cathedral organist and its associate director of music, skittered his fingers across the keys Thursday to show why the machine needs work: Not all of its trumpets trumpet, and plenty of keys strike dead notes. Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2022

Dictionary Entries Near strike (someone) dead

Cite this Entry

“Strike (someone) dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20%28someone%29%20dead. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!