English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Fate worse than death

Meaning

The idiom "fate worse than death" means that a situation or outcome is so bad, it would be better if someone had died instead. It's an expression of extreme disappointment or horror at a turn of events.

Usage

  • I can't believe my computer crashed and lost all my important files. That's fate worse than death for me!
  • The news of the terrorist attack on the city was a devastating blow to everyone. Even dying would have been preferable to this outcome.
  • When I heard that my favorite TV show got canceled, I felt like my world had ended. That's fate worse than death for me!
  • The weather forecast for today is so bad, I think it's fate worse than death to venture outside.
  • My friend lost his job due to the economic downturn. It's a difficult situation, but for him, it's fate worse than death.

Roots and History

The idiom "fate worse than death" has been used in English literature since the 18th century. It was first used in John Dryden's poem "Ambohilia" in 1705. The phrase "worse than death" means to be so severe that it would be better if someone had died instead. The use of "fate" gives the idiom a sense of inevitability and resignation, which adds to its impact.

Synonyms in English

  • A fate worse than death would be to lose my pet
  • I would rather have died than endured that experience
  • That outcome was more horrible than death itself
  • The news was so shocking, it felt like a fate worse than death
  • My friend's situation was so dire, it felt like a fate worse than death

Synonyms in other languages

  • En español: "Más peor que la muerte" - Used to express disappointment or horror at a situation.
  • French: "Pire qu'elle-même" - Used to express disappointment or horror at a situation.
  • German: "Schlimmer als der Tod" - Used to express disappointment or horror at a situation.
  • Italian: "Più peggio della morte" - Used to express disappointment or horror at a situation.
  • Portuguese: "Pior que a morte" - Used to express disappointment or horror at a situation.

Similar Idioms