50 Idioms for Killing Someone and Danger

Idioms are fun word phrases that mean something different than the actual words say. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful and exciting. In this article, you will learn fifty fun idioms related to killing someone.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean ending a life, dangerous actions, and fatal events. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Killing Someone

1. Off someone

Definition: To secretly murder or take the life of another person.

Used in a Sentence: The detective discovered a plot to off the wealthy businessman. / The criminal was hired to off the witness before the trial.

Similar Expressions: Eliminate someone / Kill a person

2. Rub out

Definition: To completely destroy or execute someone in a criminal way.

Used in a Sentence: The mobsters planned to rub out anyone who leaked their secrets. / The gang boss ordered his men to rub out the rival leader.

Similar Expressions: Terminate someone / Kill off

3. Take for a ride

Definition: To trick someone and take them somewhere secretly to kill them.

Used in a Sentence: They took him for a ride down a dark alley before doing the crime. / The villain promised a tour but actually took his rival for a ride.

Similar Expressions: Lure to death / Trap and kill

4. Put out a hit

Definition: To pay a professional assassin money to murder a specific person.

Used in a Sentence: The crime lord put out a hit on the honest police detective. / Everyone knew he put out a hit when the strangers arrived in town.

Similar Expressions: Order a murder / Hire a killer

5. Sleep with the fishes

Definition: A classic gangster phrase meaning to be killed and thrown into the ocean.

Used in a Sentence: The mobster warned him that talkative people end up sleeping with the fishes. / He found out too late that betraying the boss meant sleeping with the fishes.

Similar Expressions: Drowned in ocean / Killed in water

6. Bump off

Definition: To quietly murder someone for money or revenge.

Used in a Sentence: The villain plotted to bump off the king to steal the crown. / They decided to bump off their partner to keep all the stolen gold.

Similar Expressions: Knock off / Murder quietly

7. Snuff out

Definition: To suddenly end someone’s life like blowing out a candle flame.

Used in a Sentence: The ruthless villain tried to snuff out the hero in the dark forest. / A single stray arrow could snuff out a soldier’s life instantly.

Similar Expressions: Extinguish life / Kill quickly

8. Blow away

Definition: To shoot and kill someone with a firearm.

Used in a Sentence: The Western outlaw threatened to blow away anyone who crossed his path. / The guard drew his weapon ready to blow away the intruder.

Similar Expressions: Shoot dead / Gun down

9. Do away with

Definition: To permanently get rid of or murder a person.

Used in a Sentence: The wicked uncle planned to do away with the young prince. / They hired mercenaries to do away with the village leader.

Similar Expressions: Eliminate person / Murder someone

10. Knock off

Definition: To murder or assassinate someone during a criminal operation.

Used in a Sentence: The secret agent was ordered to knock off the evil mastermind. / They planned to knock off the guard during the night shift.

Similar Expressions: Take down / Kill someone

11. Liquidate someone

Definition: A harsh term meaning to execute or murder a political opponent.

Used in a Sentence: The dictator ordered his guards to liquidate anyone speaking against him. / Secret police were sent to liquidate the rebel leaders.

Similar Expressions: Execute someone / Purge a person

12. Dispatch someone

Definition: To kill a person quickly and efficiently with a weapon.

Used in a Sentence: The trained warrior used his sword to dispatch the enemy scout. / The assassin moved silently to dispatch his target.

Similar Expressions: Kill fast / End life

13. Put paid to

Definition: To permanently stop or end someone’s life or career.

Used in a Sentence: The sniper’s bullet put paid to the spy’s dangerous mission. / A fatal accident put paid to his plans of ruling the city.

Similar Expressions: End life / Stop permanently

14. Send to the great beyond

Definition: To cause someone to die and pass away from this world.

Used in a Sentence: The fierce monster threatened to send every traveler to the great beyond. / He vowed to send his enemy to the great beyond in revenge.

Similar Expressions: Kill someone / Cause death

15. Put down like a dog

Definition: To ruthlessly and coldly execute a helpless person or animal.

Used in a Sentence: The cruel soldiers threatened to put the prisoner down like a dog. / He warned that traitors would be put down like a dog.

Similar Expressions: Cold execution / Kill ruthlessly

16. Slay the dragon

Definition: A fantasy idiom meaning to kill a mythical beast in combat.

Used in a Sentence: The brave knight journeyed across the mountains to slay the dragon. / Heroes in fairy tales always try to slay the dragon to save the kingdom.

Similar Expressions: Defeat beast / Kill monster

17. Cut down in prime

Definition: To kill a young or healthy person unexpectedly early in life.

Used in a Sentence: The young soldier was cut down in his prime during the battle. / It was a tragedy to see such a talented person cut down in his prime.

Similar Expressions: Early death / Killed young

18. Seal someone’s fate

Definition: To perform an action that guarantees someone will be killed.

Used in a Sentence: Stealing the king’s crown was a mistake that sealed his fate. / Walking into the trap sealed the spy’s fatal fate.

Similar Expressions: Doom someone / Ensure death

19. Send to kingdom come

Definition: To kill someone and send their soul away violently.

Used in a Sentence: The pirate captain threatened to send the mutineers to kingdom come. / One wrong move would send the trespasser straight to kingdom come.

Similar Expressions: Blow up / Destroy utterly

20. Make someone bite the dust

Definition: To shoot and kill an opponent in a fight or duel.

Used in a Sentence: The sheriff’s fast gun made the outlaw bite the dust in the street. / In the western movie, the hero made every villain bite the dust.

Similar Expressions: Shoot down / Defeat fatally

21. Lay low

Definition: To kill or strike someone down violently in combat.

Used in a Sentence: The plague managed to lay low half the village in a week. / The warrior vowed to lay low his fiercest rival in battle.

Similar Expressions: Strike down / Kill opponents

22. Put to the sword

Definition: To execute enemies using a sword during a historical battle.

Used in a Sentence: The invading army put to the sword all the guards at the gate. / The castle defenders were ruthlessly put to the sword.

Similar Expressions: Executed by blade / Killed in battle

23. Serve someone their head

Definition: An intense threat meaning to decapitate or kill someone for failure.

Used in a Sentence: The angry king threatened to serve the lazy guard his head on a platter. / The tyrant promised to serve anyone’s head who betrayed him.

Similar Expressions: Decapitate / Execute angrily

24. Cut someone’s throat

Definition: To murder someone by slicing their neck with a sharp blade.

Used in a Sentence: The wicked pirate threatened to cut the captive’s throat if he yelled. / The assassin crept into the tent to cut the sentry’s throat.

Similar Expressions: Slit throat / Murder with blade

25. Sign someone’s death warrant

Definition: To take an action that ensures someone will be executed or killed.

Used in a Sentence: Refusing to pay the gang leader was like signing your own death warrant. / He signed his own death warrant by entering the enemy camp alone.

Similar Expressions: Doom yourself / Invite death

26. Take a life

Definition: The literal act of killing another human being.

Used in a Sentence: The soldier vowed never to take a life unless it was to protect others. / Taking a life carries heavy consequences in any society.

Similar Expressions: Commit murder / Kill a human

27. Snuff a life out

Definition: To extinguish a person’s existence through violence.

Used in a Sentence: The assassin was paid to snuff out the life of the governor. / A single accident can snuff out a life in seconds.

Similar Expressions: End existence / Kill person

28. Deliver the fatal blow

Definition: To strike the final, killing hit that ends someone’s life in a fight.

Used in a Sentence: The knight delivered the fatal blow to end the fierce duel. / He delivered the fatal blow during the final battle scene.

Similar Expressions: Killing strike / Final hit

29. Send someone to the guillotine

Definition: To execute a criminal or political enemy by beheading.

Used in a Sentence: The revolutionary court decided to send the corrupt noble to the guillotine. / Spies caught during wartime were sent to the guillotine.

Similar Expressions: Behead / Official execution

30. Terminate with extreme prejudice

Definition: A spy or military phrase meaning to murder someone covertly.

Used in a Sentence: The secret agent received orders to terminate the rogue spy with extreme prejudice. / The agency decided to terminate the double agent with extreme prejudice.

Similar Expressions: Secretly kill / Assassinate target

31. Put out of their misery

Definition: To kill a mortally wounded person or animal to end their suffering.

Used in a Sentence: Facing no hope of recovery, the hunter decided to put the injured deer out of its misery. / In the tragic story, the wounded soldier asked a friend to put him out of his misery.

Similar Expressions: End suffering / Merciful kill

32. Do someone in

Definition: A slang term meaning to murder or kill someone.

Used in a Sentence: The mystery novel plot centered on who tried to do the old man in. / They suspected the butler tried to do his master in for money.

Similar Expressions: Murder someone / Kill person

33. Pop someone off

Definition: A cold slang expression for shooting and killing someone quickly.

Used in a Sentence: The sniper boasted that he could pop off any target from a mile away. / The gangster threatened to pop off the witness if she spoke.

Similar Expressions: Shoot fast / Kill quickly

34. Wipe off the face of the earth

Definition: To completely kill and destroy every person in a group or town.

Used in a Sentence: The villain threatened to wipe the hero’s hometown off the face of the earth. / The massive explosion wiped the military base off the face of the earth.

Similar Expressions: Totally destroy / Annihilate completely

35. Strangle the life out of

Definition: To murder someone by squeezing their neck until they suffocate.

Used in a Sentence: The villain tried to strangle the life out of the trapped hero. / The monster used its massive coils to strangle the life out of its prey.

Similar Expressions: Choke to death / Suffocate person

36. Send to the electric chair

Definition: To execute a convicted murderer using judicial electrocution.

Used in a Sentence: The jury found him guilty, and the judge sent him to the electric chair. / The notorious criminal was sentenced to the electric chair.

Similar Expressions: Judicial execution / Electrocute killer

37. Shoot on sight

Definition: An order to kill anyone immediately upon seeing them without warning.

Used in a Sentence: The guards posted around the secret base were ordered to shoot on sight. / During the curfew, trespassers were targeted to shoot on sight.

Similar Expressions: Kill immediately / Fire at view

38. Give a dose of lead

Definition: An old gangster expression meaning to shoot someone with bullets.

Used in a Sentence: The mob enforcer threatened to give the spy a dose of lead. / Cross the boss, and you will get a dose of lead.

Similar Expressions: Shoot with bullets / Gun down

39. Execute summary justice

Definition: To kill a criminal immediately on the spot without a proper trial.

Used in a Sentence: The harsh frontier town practiced summary justice against cattle thieves. / The renegade captain carried out summary justice on the spy.

Similar Expressions: Instant execution / Spot killing

40. Put to death

Definition: The formal legal term for executing a criminal for a capital crime.

Used in a Sentence: Ancient laws required traitors to be put to death in the public square. / The court ruled that the murderer should be put to death.

Similar Expressions: Judicially kill / Execute prisoner

41. Run through with a sword

Definition: To pierce someone’s body completely with a blade during a fight.

Used in a Sentence: The master swordsman ran his opponent through with a sword during the duel. / The knight was run through with a sword defending the castle door.

Similar Expressions: Pierce with blade / Stab fatally

42. Drop dead

Definition: An angry insult, or literally collapsing and dying suddenly.

Used in a Sentence: He told the bully to drop dead and walked away from the argument. / The stressful news made him feel like he might drop dead.

Similar Expressions: Die suddenly / Collapse dead

43. Cut down in the flower of youth

Definition: To kill a young person before they have lived a full life.

Used in a Sentence: The prince was cut down in the flower of youth by an assassin. / War ensures many brave souls are cut down in the flower of youth.

Similar Expressions: Young death / Killed early

44. Take for a one-way trip

Definition: Driving someone to a remote location under false pretenses to murder them.

Used in a Sentence: The gangsters invited him along for what turned out to be a one-way trip. / He realized too late that the night drive was a one-way trip.

Similar Expressions: Lure to murder / Fatal drive

45. Send to the firing squad

Definition: To execute a condemned prisoner by having soldiers shoot them.

Used in a Sentence: The military court sentenced the traitor to be sent to the firing squad. / Spies captured during wartime faced the firing squad.

Similar Expressions: Military execution / Shot by squad

46. Make food for worms

Definition: A grim phrase meaning to be killed, buried, and decompose in the ground.

Used in a Sentence: The villain threatened to make food for worms out of anyone who opposed him. / He boasted that his enemies would soon be making food for worms.

Similar Expressions: Bury dead / Rot in ground

47. Put an end to someone

Definition: To murder or permanently stop a dangerous person’s actions.

Used in a Sentence: The hero vowed to put an end to the wicked sorcerer once and for all. / The police tracked down the outlaw to put an end to his crimes.

Similar Expressions: Kill person / Stop permanently

48. Dispatch to the afterlife

Definition: A dramatic expression meaning to kill someone and send them to heaven or hell.

Used in a Sentence: The vengeful ghost sought to dispatch every murderer to the afterlife. / The warrior prepared to dispatch his foes to the afterlife.

Similar Expressions: Send to death / Kill enemy

49. Silence forever

Definition: To murder a witness or informant so they can never speak again.

Used in a Sentence: The crime syndicate hired an assassin to silence the witness forever. / They tried to silence him forever before he reached the police station.

Similar Expressions: Murder witness / Kill to hide secrets

50. Cause a fatality

Definition: A formal phrasing for an action that results in someone dying.

Used in a Sentence: Reckless driving on the highway can easily cause a fatality. / The industrial accident managed to cause a fatality at the factory.

Similar Expressions: Result in death / Produce killing

Exercise to Practice

1. The detective discovered a plot to off the wealthy businessman.
2. The mobsters planned to rub out the cat by feeding it ice cream.
3. The villain plotted to bump off the king to crown himself.
4. The young soldier was cut down in his prime during the history test.
5. Stealing the king’s crown was a mistake that sealed his fate.
6. The assassin was paid to snuff out the life of the governor.
7. The secret agent received orders to buy a pizza with extreme prejudice.
8. The mystery novel plot centered on who tried to do the old man in.
9. The sniper boasted that he could pop off any target from a mile away.
10. The knight was run through with a sword while painting a rainbow in art class.
11. Ancient laws required traitors to be put to death in the public square.
12. The master swordsman ran his opponent through with a math textbook.
13. The crime syndicate hired an assassin to silence the witness forever.
14. Reckless driving on the highway can easily cause a fatality.
15. The pirate captain gave a spelling test to send the mutineers to kingdom come.

Answer Key

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. False
11. True
12. False
13. True
14. True
15. False

Conclusion

Learning these idioms helps you understand figurative language used in crime stories, mysteries, and dramatic literature. When you recognize these expressions, you can better comprehend plots in books and movies.

Try noticing how authors use dramatic phrasing the next time you read a mystery story or thriller at school. You will see how exciting it is to understand advanced English expressions!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common idioms for killing someone?

Some popular idioms for killing someone include off someone, rub out, and sleep with the fishes. People use these expressions in literature, crime stories, and dramatic dialogue to describe fatal actions.

Why do we use idioms in English?

Idioms make our language much more colorful and interesting than plain words alone. They help us share feelings and pictures in our minds quickly and clearly.

How can I learn more idioms easily?

You can learn new idioms by reading fun stories, listening to how people talk, and practicing them in your own sentences. Writing down your favorite phrases in a notebook is also a great way to remember them.

Are idioms used in everyday speech?

Yes, people use idioms every day when talking with friends, family, and classmates. They help make ordinary conversations sound lively and engaging.

Can idioms have more than one meaning?

Most idioms have one main accepted meaning, but people can use them in different fun contexts. Always check the definition and sample sentences to make sure you use the phrase correctly.