do-or-die
[ doo-er-dahy ]
/ ˈdu ərˈdaɪ /
adjective
reflecting or characterized by an irrevocable decision to succeed at all costs; desperate; all-out: a do-or-die attempt to halt the invaders.
involving a potentially fatal crisis or crucial emergency.
Origin of do-or-die
First recorded in 1875–80
Words nearby do-or-die
do-goodism,
do-it-yourself,
do-little,
do-nothing,
do-nothingism,
do-or-die,
do-rag,
do-re-mi,
do-si-do,
do.,
doa
Definition for do or die (2 of 2)
Origin of do
1
before 900; Middle English, Old English
dōn; cognate with Dutch
doen, German
tun; akin to Latin
-dere to put,
facere to make, do, Greek
tithénai to set, put, Sanskrit
dadhāti (he) puts
synonym study for do
3.
Do,
accomplish,
achieve mean to bring some action to a conclusion.
Do is the general word:
He did a great deal of hard work.
Accomplish and
achieve both connote successful completion of an undertaking.
Accomplish emphasizes attaining a desired goal through effort, skill, and perseverance:
to accomplish what one has hoped for.
Achieve emphasizes accomplishing something important, excellent, or great:
to achieve a major breakthrough.
British Dictionary definitions for do or die (1 of 5)
DO
abbreviation for
Doctor of Optometry
Doctor of Osteopathy
British Dictionary definitions for do or die (2 of 5)
do-or-die
adjective
(prenominal)
of or involving a determined and sometimes reckless effort to succeed
British Dictionary definitions for do or die (3 of 5)
do
1
/ (duː, unstressed dʊ, də) /
verb does, doing, did or done
noun plural dos or do's
Word Origin for do
Old English
dōn; related to Old Frisian
duān, Old High German
tuon, Latin
abdere to put away, Greek
tithenai to place; see
deed,
doom
British Dictionary definitions for do or die (4 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for do or die (5 of 5)
do
3
the internet domain name for
Dominican Republic
Idioms and Phrases with do or die
do or die
Exert supreme effort because failure is close at hand, as in Carol was going to set up the computer, do or die. This hyperbolic expression in effect says one will not be deterred by any obstacle. [c. 1600]